God has lavished so much upon us, even the blessing of forming us into His people.
While it is a great gift freely given, it compels us to make something of it.
The story told in slightly differing versions in Isaiah and then the Gospel according to St. Matthew tells about how God had expectations that His people, represented as the vineyard, and those attending the vineyard, and was disappointed when they didn't produce good fruit in keeping with His blessings.
So as is told in the Gospel reading, the owner of the vineyard gave care of the vineyard to other people who would produce its fruit, which happened when the way was opened for the Gentiles to enter and tend to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
All of us are freely given the gift of blessing as God's people, and all of us are compelled to share those blessings. We are called, as St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, to focus on what is worthy, drawing constantly and closely to God in prayer, and abiding in the way of righteousness.
On this Respect Life Sunday, may we behold the great gift of Life we have each day, and embrace the noble and worthy responsibility to uphold it for all.
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