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Afterfeast of the Dormition
The Gospel
for this Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost consists of the Parable of the Vineyard and the Wicked Tenants. Have we,
who are Christ's 'tenants' today, worked selflessly in our Father's veneyard? Have we not all too often despised the
repeated messages from the Lord of the vineyard -- indeed his Word himself, to produce spiritual fruit?
The first line in today's Epistle reading resonates well with the message of today's Gospel: "Be watchful, stand firm
in your faith...."
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The following readings below are for Sunday, August
19, 2018:
Today's Epistle reading [1 Corinthians 16.13-24]:
Be watchful,
stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have
devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer.
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they
refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.
The
churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings
in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.
Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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The Gospel reading for today
[Matthew 21.33-42]:
"Hear
another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in
it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and
stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he
sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves,
'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard,
and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to
him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the
fruits in their seasons."
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the
scriptures:
'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head
of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"
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