3i Oct 4, 2020

3i - OLPS Weekly Newsletter (digital format, No 26) October 4, 2020 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Tenant Farmers All! The last three weeks our gospels have been about vineyards. Two weeks ago we had the Parable of the Laborers in the Marketplace. The Good Employer called people to work in his vineyard throughout the day. Last week we had the parable of the two sons who were called to work in their father’s vineyard, one said, “No,” but went. The other said, “Sure,” but did not go. This week we have another vineyard story, the story of the evil tenant farmers who tried to steal the vineyard from their Master, even putting his messengers to death and finally putting his son to death.

So why all these vineyards? The vineyard was a fixture in Jesus’ time. Everybody drank wine. Wine cannot be produced unless there are grapes. Therefore, there were many vineyards in the ancient world that had to be worked. Actually, there are many wine producing areas of the modern world and therefore many vineyards throughout the world. You might be most familiar with the vineyards of California, the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, or maybe you are aware of the wonderful vineyards of Italy in Tuscany, Umbria and throughout Italy, or the vineyards of France in Bordeaux and Burgundy and all over France, or those throughout Spain and Germany and Greece or closer home the Sula vineyards in Naskik. The production of wine is still a large enterprise throughout the world. I want to tell you about a small vineyard where my friend grew up. That was her Grandpa’s vineyard . This was not a large grape farm like the ones I just mentioned, just a simple wood structure in their back yard. There were wooden slats along its sides and over the top. The grape vines would wrap around the slats. By the summer clusters of grapes start to appear. The whole family, grandparents, children and grandchildren would help harvesting the grapes. She remembers the smell of those grapes. They say that your memory retains smells from the past. I think that is true. She can still smell those grapes. After the grapes were harvested, her Grandpa would use about half of them to make his own wine, Grandma and her daughters, my friends Mom for sure, would take the other half of the grapes and make grape jelly. You have not tasted grape jelly unless you have tasted homemade grape jelly. The vineyard was a treasure in her Grandpa’s back yard. It was a treasure because it produced fruit for the whole family. It was not constructed for its looks. Nor was it constructed for the shade it would produce when the leaves came out, although she does remember having picnics under its shade. However, that was not why her Grandpa constructed his vineyard. It was constructed to provide fruit for its owner. The vineyard in today’s Gospel was much, much larger than her Grandpa’s, but its reason for existing was the same. It was constructed to produce fruit for its owner. Only, in today’s Gospel, the laborers in this vineyard decide to steal the vineyard from the Master and keep the fruit for themselves.

Who are these wicked laborers? On one level, they are the leaders of the Jewish people of Jesus’ day. They were entrusted with the Vineyard of the Lord. They were called upon to provide fruit for the Lord. They were given the mission to nourish the people in the Word of God and prepare them for the Word Become Flesh. However, they used the people for their own selfish gain. They would tax the people exorbitantly for their own financial support. The people were also their means of power before the Romans. They would use the sheer number of the people as a threat to the Pax Romana. They did not prepare the people for the Messiah. In fact, they did not even want a Messiah. What if the Messiah would eliminate the need for the Temple? What would the Temple priests and Levites do? What if the Messiah were to tell the people that God was not looking for them to revolt against Rome, but was looking for them to build a spiritual kingdom? What would the Temple priests and Levites do? No, they didn’t want a Messiah. He would disrupt their system of using God’s people to enrich themselves. “So,” the Lord says, “the vineyard will be taken from those evil farmers and given to others who would nurture it and bear the fruit of the Kingdom.” That is one level of truth that this parable conveys. I suppose it has its merit in understanding salvation history. But does this parable really have a message for us who live 2020 years after the birth of the Word Made Flesh? It certainly does! We, the baptized, have been entrusted with the vineyard of the Lord. We are given the deep responsibility of providing fruit for our Master. We must produce fruit for Him, not for ourselves. Sadly, I have seen people use the vineyard for themselves and not for God. Some people use their attendance in the Church for nothing other than what they can receive from the Church or from others. I have seen this. Perhaps you have too. I have seen people who come to Church to see and be seen, but who are not there to grow in their faith life or to bring their faith to others. I am speaking about those who use the Church for their own selfish reasons. I have seen, and perhaps you have seen, young adults and teens who come to Church for the sole

reason of getting a girl or guy to go out with them and are completely closed to anything happening at Mass. Using the Church for one’s personal gain is not the reason why we come together to celebrate Mass. The Mass is the Sending Ceremony. The word Mass is derived from the last words of the Mass in Latin, “Ita Missa Est” “Go, you are sent.” The Mass is the liturgy, the prayer of the people and priests united to Christ our Head. At the Mass we receive God’s Grace in Word and Sacrament so we can bring the Lord’s presence to the people of the world who long for God. The Mass is about being strengthened to produce fruit for the Lord. We come to Mass and use the grace we receive here to lead our children, your classmates, your spouses, and yes even your parents to Jesus Christ. We do this, first of all, by growing closer and closer to the Lord so that our words and actions naturally reflect His Presence. We do this by standing up for all that is right and moral. We do this by being kind to others with the kindness of the One who was the kindest man to ever live. Think about how kind Jesus was, Think about the sick he cured, the dead he raised. Think about the woman brought to him and accused of adultery and think about little Zacchaeus, the short tax collector and robber of the people, who climbed up a tree to see Jesus and heard him call him down. Think about how Jesus said to those who were sinners, and says to us, “You are better than that. Now receive God’s mercy and change your lives.” We have been entrusted with the vineyard of the Lord to produce fruit for our God. Grapes, sweet smelling grapes, bundles of grapes, bundles of love, must be nurtured by our kindness to be transformed by the Lord not just into wine, but into the very Blood of Christ. For we, the tenant farmers, have been entrusted to do no less than to fill the world with the Presence of Christ. May we work hard to care for the Lord’s vineyard.

Why Asking Great Questions Makes You a Great Listener One of the clearest signs of a great listener is when someone knows how to ask open-ended questions. To really engage someone in conversation, you have to stop asking questions that only require a “yes” or “no” answer. Those questions won’t get you anywhere! Instead, you have to start asking open-ended questions that allow someone to really share beyond a one- word answer. For example, instead of asking, “Did you enjoy the concert?” you could say, “What was your favorite part about the concert?” It may seem like a subtle change, but it makes all the difference in how someone opens up to you and continues the conversation. If you really want to go deeper in your relationships and better understand your kids, spouse, and friends, then you need to put some more thought into how you phrase your questions. Proverbs 20:5 says, “A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out” . There’s one phrase that will make you a master listener—“tell me more.” You’ll need to use it over and over again as you interact with all kinds of people throughout your life.

When people open up to you, don’t let them stop after two or three sentences. When they finish, say, “Tell me more.” Then, after they’ve talked a few more minutes: “Tell me more.” Then, just when they think you’re done listening: “Tell me more.” Every time you ask for more, you’re going deeper and allowing them to express more of themselves. You may tell people you really care about what they have to say, but the best way to show them is to ask for more. It tells them you’re interested. It proves you’re paying attention. And attention is love! Asking open-ended questions shows people you’re willing to give them your time, your focus, and your love so they can be heard and understood. Draw deep from the well. Doing so doesn’t just improve your listening skills and conversations. It also transforms your relationships. Our Lady of the Rosary Feast Day October 7

Many religions use beads to keep track of prayers. Our Rosary, a circle of beads, is like a garland offered to Mary because we pray a prayer on each bead. This well- loved prayer has its roots in the 150 psalms. People who couldn’t read began praying 150 Hail Marys instead, the equivalent of three of our modern rosaries covering the original three sets of mysteries. The story of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is an interesting one. In the 16th century Pope Pius V was having trouble with the Ottoman Turks, who were a real danger to Christianity. After months of disagreements and bickering, he was able to unite Spain, Venice, and the States of the Church in a naval expedition to fight the Turks. The two navies met in the Gulf of Lepanto in Greece on October 7, 1571. On the same day, the Rosary Confraternity of Rome was meeting at the Dominican headquarters there. The group recited the Rosary for the special intention of the Christians at battle. The Christians defeated the Turks in a spectacular victory and believed it was the intercessory power of the Blessed Virgin that won the victory. Pope Pius V dedicated the day as one of thanksgiving to Our Lady of Victory. Pope Gregory XIII later changed the name to the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The story of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary focuses on the intercessory power of Mary. It shows that when Christians are in danger, they can go to Mary. And when an individual is in pain, discouraged, or having trouble accepting God’s will, he or she can also go to Mary. She will pray to her Son for anyone who calls on her. Anyone who prays to Mary no longer feels alone because she prays with them and for them. Mary encouraged praying the Rosary in her apparitions. At Lourdes when she appeared to Saint Bernadette, Mary had a Rosary. As Bernadette prayed it, Mary joined in on the Glory Be prayers. At Fatima Mary exhorted the three children who saw her to pray the Rosary for peace. The Rosary is a deep prayer because as we recite the Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, we meditate on the mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary. No wonder it pleases Our Lady when we pray the Rosary. The development of the rosary has a long history. First a practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon a mystery of Jesus’ life was attached to each Hail Mary. Though Mary’s giving of the rosary to Saint Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of Saint Dominic. One of

them, Alan de la Roche, was known as “the apostle of the rosary.” He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the rosary was developed to its present form—with the 15 mysteries: joyful, sorrowful and glorious. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five Mysteries of Light to this devotion. Why is October the Month of the Rosary? The short answer is this: October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary because we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary each year on October 7. To understand this feast, we need to go back in time. In the 16th century, the Islamic Ottoman Empire presented a serious military threat to western Europe and sent a fleet of ships to attack Christian defenses in southern Europe. Pope Pius V recognized the grave danger and organized a fleet called the Holy League to confront the navy of the Ottoman Turks.

On October 7, 1571, the two navies engaged in a pivotal battle that would determine who controlled maritime traffic in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean seas. The fate of western Europe depended upon the success of Christians in this navy battle, which involved more than 400 warships (it was the largest naval battle in Western history for centuries). Pius V knew he needed more than just military strength to defend Christian Europe, so he asked that all the faithful pray the rosary, requesting the intercession of the Blessed Mother. At the end of the Battle of Lepanto, the Holy League was victorious and the maritime expansion of the Ottoman Empire was permanently prevented. The next year, Pius V established a feast on October 7 in honor of the Blessed Mother, originally called Our Lady of Victory. After a few centuries, the name was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary to more clearly recognize that prayer was the greatest power at work that day on the seas. In 1571, the rosary was still a relatively new prayer form for the universal church. Pope Pius V had issued a decree formally establishing devotion to the rosary in the papal bull Consueverunt Romani Pontifices just two years before the Battle of Lepanto. The Holy Father’s universal promulgation recognized the growing devotion to the Blessed Mother throughout Europe, as well as the increased prayer of the rosary in various locations. Devotion to the rosary was especially promoted in the 13th century by St. Dominic and in the 16th century by St. Peter Canisius (who, according to tradition, added the final verse to the Hail Mary, in which we pray, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” — printed officially in the Catechism of the Council of Trent in 1566; the first two verses of the Hail Mary are adapted from Luke 1:28 and 1:42). The origins of the rosary are complex. The use of knotted ropes to count prayers or scriptural verses (including the Lord’s Prayer and the Jesus Prayer) is an ancient practice and is even found in non-Christian cultures. Most probably, the Christian recitation of 150 such prayers was intended to mirror the monastic prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours in which monks prayed all 150 psalms each day. The structure of the rosary as we know it today developed significantly from the 12th to the 14th centuries as the larger collection of 150 prayers was further

divided into groups of 50 and separated by biblical verses or themes (now referred to as mysteries). It is these mysteries, like a grouping of common roses in a garden, that gave the name rosary to this prayer form. The rosary is a living prayer form and continues to develop even in recent times. An invocation known as the Fatima Prayer was commonly added in the early 20th century. In 2002 Pope John Paul II added a new set of five reflections called the Luminous Mysteries which encourage additional meditations on the life of Jesus. The rosary is an invitation to experience the grace of Mary’s spiritual motherhood as she leads us to her Son, Jesus. For this reason, it has been an invaluable source of countless spiritual graces for the saints. Remember, every time you pray the rosary you are given the privilege and honor of pronouncing the holy name of Jesus more than 50 times. The wealth of spiritual graces offered through the rosary comes not from the multiplication of prayers (see Matthew 6:7) but from the imitation of Christ through obedience to the Father’s will, according to the example of the Blessed Mother. Maybe October would be a good month to turn off the radio or podcast as you commute and pray the rosary instead. See what graces the Lord wants to pour into your life from the rose garden of this daily meditation.

Sorry, Son In writing, I apply my I banged into a stranger as he passed by, 'Oh feminine side and respect excuse me please' was my reply. He said, 'Please excuse me too; I couldn't see you coming.' We the mystery involved in were very polite, this stranger and I. We said goodbye and went on our way. creation - Paulo Coelho But at home a different story unfolds, like Humour everyday, How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later that day, cooking the evening When my husband, James Rowles, was meal, My son stood beside me very still. When I in the seminary, he was invited to turned, I nearly knocked him down. 'Move out of preach at a small rural church. the way,' I said with a frown, a little harshly. He However, the man who was to walked away, his little heart broken. introduce him to the congregation had I didn't realise how harshly I'd spoken. While I trouble pronouncing his name. So lay resting in bed, God's small voice came to me James offered this verbal clue: and said, 'While dealing with a stranger, \"Remember rolls, like hot buttered common courtesy you use, but the family you love, you seem to abuse. Go and look on the rolls.\" It worked. When it was time for kitchen floor, You'll find some flowers there by the introduction, the man announced, the door. Those are the flowers he brought for \"We are pleased to have with us the you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and Reverend James Biscuits.\" blue. He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.' By this time, I felt very small, And now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by his bed; Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said. Are these the flowers you picked for me?' He smiled, 'I found them out by the tree...I picked them because they're pretty like you. I knew you'd like them especially the blue.' I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today; I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.' He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway.' I said, 'Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.' Come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

Wellspring (Readings for the week) 5th Oct' 20: Monday - St. Maria Faustina Kowalska Galatians 1: 6-12; Ps 111: 1b-2, 7-8, 9 & 10c; Luke 10: 25-37. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind. 6th Oct’ 20: Tuesday Galatians 1: 13-24; Ps 139: 1-3, 13-14, 15; Luke 10: 28-42. Lead me, Lord, in the path of life eternal. 7th Oct' 20: Wednesday - Our Lady of Rosary Acts 1: 12-14; Luke 1: 46-55; Luke 1: 26-38. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! 8th Oct’ 20: Thursday Galatians 3: 1-5; Luke 1: 69-70, 71-72, 73-75; Luke 11: 5-13. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited his people. 9th Oct' 20: Friday Galatians 3: 7-14; Ps 111: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6; Luke 11: 15-26. The Lord keeps his covenant ever in mind.

10th Oct'20: Saturday Galatians 3: 22-29; Ps 105: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Luke 11: 27-28. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever. 11th Oct’ 20: Sunday Isaiah 25: 6-10a; Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22: 1- 14. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.