(For the audio version of this blog, please visit: https://brothersinchristcmf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mass-Blog-for-the-27th-Sunday-in-Ordinary-time-2023.mp3)
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on
This first stanza from “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” sounds like it could have been written by Isaiah—whose prophetic book documents God’s wrath at humanity’s self-inflicted torture and enslavement. Here’s how the prophet characterizes the fruit of that harvest:
At the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land quakes, and the people are like fuel for fire; no one spares his brother. They hack on the right, but remain hungry; they devour on the left, but are not filled. Each devours the flesh of the neighbor; (IS 9:18-19).
This environment in Isaiah’s time explains why we needed laws to protect us FROM each other, and why God finally sent us Jesus to inspire protection FOR each other.
Jesus must have felt kinship with Isaiah, and though they were separated by centuries, Isaiah prophesied as if Jesus were his best friend—even voicing the sacrifice his friend would offer up for our sake:
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; my face I did not hide from insults and spitting. (IS 50:6).
This Sunday’s Mass readings demonstrate their mutual inspiration by making a connection between the vineyards both envisioned. In Isaiah’s vineyard, even though the owner provided the perfect environment for a good vintage, there was something wrong with the end product:
My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes (Is 5:1-7).
Jesus envisioned for us a vineyard whose threat was external—from the outsiders hired to follow the rules ensuring a decent vintage. These outsiders hijacked the vineyard’s produce for themselves, and prevented others from sharing its bounty. They even killed whomever the owner sent to access it—even the owner’s son. Jesus aims the moral of this parable at any “leader” trying to hijack or poison the fruit of the vineyard he planted:
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” (Mt 21:33-43)
Paul, who was once one of those hijackers, was transformed into one of that vineyard’s greatest protectors, and in Sunday’s letter to the Philippians (Phil 4:6-9), he describes the priceless qualities of the vintage Jesus cultivated to ensure that this world will be saved from itself and for his Father:
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
These are the values that Jesus meant to free us from enslavement to laws written to protect us from each other’s worst qualities. Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic in celebration of that freedom and to ensure that its honor, justice, purity, loveliness, graciousness, excellence AND truth will help us keep marching on.
–Tom Andel
His truth is marching on!
What is truth Pilot said to Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Truth in the form of his creator was standing right in front of him and he couldn’t see it.
We too often can’t see Jesus when he is right in front of us, in his church, the tabernacle, in the adoration chapel, and when we bow before him to receive his very body, blood, soul, and divinity.
We can be similar to the workers in the vineyard parable when we ignore his teachings. When we are lukewarm and indifferent in our faith and family responsibilities. Oh yeah, that can be most of us many times.
Following Jesus is never easy, but it’s the only way. His truth IS marching on!
As we get closer to Halloween, we like to confront the little things that scare us. Truth is one of the scariest, though. You and I, Thomas, are old enough to remember when the movie “The Exorcist” first came out in the early 70s. The spinning head and spit-pea soup got the crowd’s attention, but they were secondary to what the aging Fathers Karras tells Father Damien AND US as the young priest prepares to confront the demon possessing the little girl at the center of this story:
“The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us; but he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. His attack is psychological, Damien. And powerful.”
Much truth there, as Jesus taught us during the exorcism he did in the desert. It prepared him for his public ministry. Can WE handle the truth?
TA you captured the connection between the old and New Testament so well.
We are in the most heated spiritual battle since who knows when.
A republic is designed to protect us from false monarchies. There is only one true monarchy, but our world’s distractions stoke wrath among us that threatens our ability to govern ourselves. You’re right, Kevin. Our spirit is at stake.
We battle our fallen nature each day to discern God’s Will and make each moment an act of love to follow His will
Each day brings a new opportunity to rise and shine, Ron–as your Faith & Light ministry teaches. Thanks for all you do for those of us in need of a pick-me-up!