The One Wounded by the Wayside

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Isaiah 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend,
my friend's song concerning his vineyard.
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.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard:
What more was there to do for my vineyard
that I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,
did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know
what I mean to do with my vineyard:
take away its hedge, give it to grazing,
break through its wall, let it be trampled!
Yes, I will make it a ruin:
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds
not to send rain upon it.
The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;
he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
for justice, but hark, the outcry!
 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
A vine from Egypt you transplanted;
you drove away the nations and planted it.
It put forth its foliage to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Why have you broken down its walls,
so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,
The boar from the forest lays it waste,
and the beasts of the field feed upon it?
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;
if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Reading 2 Philippians 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,
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.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
 

Alleluia Cf. John 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will remain.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. 
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned. 
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way. 
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times." 
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
 

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The One Wounded by the Wayside

October 5, 2026 // "Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time //  Optional Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, Virgin // Optional Memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest [In the Dioceses of the United States]"

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

Reflect on the Word // As an eldest sister and educator, I’ve learned the importance of balancing an upfront “tell it like it is” approach with the gentleness that builds confidence in others. But my interactions with myself are often a different story. My harsh inner critic is still learning compassion and internalizing that Jesus is more merciful towards me than I am to myself. 

Today’s parable holds the simple heart of the Gospel message: mercy. I usually imagine myself as one of the travelers who notices the wounded man by the wayside. Do I pause like the Samaritan when someone is in need, or do I just pass by?

But in reality our criteria for loving our neighbors must be based on how mercifully we view ourselves (see Luke 10:27). With this in mind, I must not only ask whether I love my neighbor as myself, but also a reverse question: Do I receive my own heart with the same love I show others?

I recognize moments when I am the wounded one by the wayside. I sometimes fall victim to robbers, spiritually and emotionally: Insecurities, fears, and lies besiege me. When these hurting parts of me call out for compassion, do I exile them, turn away, and “[pass] by on the other side” (see Luke 10:31-32)? Or can I receive these parts of my heart, soul, and identity with love and ask Christ to pour over them the healing “oil and wine” of His grace (see Luke 10:34) so they cease being victims? Christ alone can grant integrity and victory to my story.

Sister, what has robbed your peace and ransacked your identity in Christ? Becoming an apostle of mercy requires knowing that He names you and me the “Beloved pearl of [His] Heart” as He called Saint Faustina, whose feast is today (Divine Mercy in My Soul, 1061). Rooted in God’s merciful gaze towards us, we can reflect it to others. Mercy restores souls, even our own, as Christ promised, saying, “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28). 

Relate to the Lord // Consider reading sections 1059-1061 of Saint Faustina’s diary. 

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