Not Forever

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100817.cfm) reminds me that God will not tolerate wickedness forever. 

Nice people are usually quiet. They are patient and tolerate others. However, as they say, silent waters run deep. Even though they're understanding and supportive, when they're had enough, they snap and do things you wouldn't think they're capable of. This is probably how God is. 

God is good. He is patient with us. He understands us. He gives us second chances. But we should not abuse him. We should not be too complacent just because of his goodness. Because he will not tolerate us forever. 

God is good, but he will not tolerate sinful people forever. 

We see this in the first reading and gospel. In the first reading, the Lord said he will not tak care of the vineyard if it will not bear the expected fruit. The gospel shows us a nicer story. The master was patient and gave the tenants multiple opportunities to do good. He gave them the benefit of the doubt. He even sent his only Son, thinking they would respect him. He chose to see the goodness in them, and not their sins and wickedness. However, that would not last forever. He knew when it is too much, and he gave then what is due them. 

God is like this as well. He gives us opportunities to repent and do good. He gives us the benefit of the doubt. He chooses to see the goodness in us, or even our potential to do good, and not our sins and wickedness. However, God knows what we want. He will not force us to do good. He will not force us to welcome him. And as we repeatedly ignore and hurt him, we are telling him we do not want him in our lives. And as such, when the time comes, we will forever be away with him and spend eternity in hell. 

May we come to our senses and not abuse God's goodness, for he will not tolerate our sinfulness forever.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I abuse you. Sorry for the times I delay doing good or serving you, thinking that you would understand anyway. Awaken me Lord. Make me come to my senses before its too late. Help me come to you and surrender to you as I prepare for eternity. Help me as I live. May my actions, may my life tell you how much i love you. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

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October 8, 2017
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 139

Reading 1IS 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 PsalmPS 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 2PHIL 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.

AlleluiaCF. JN 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.

GospelMT 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."