In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells a vineyard parable, which serves as an image of Israel, the prophets’ mission, and Christ’s death. Jesus leans on the Old Testament’s traditional imagery of Israel as a vineyard. Despite God’s loving care, the vineyard that is Israel has brought forth “rotten grapes” of injustice and distress, when fine grapes of justice and righteousness were expected. In the gospel, the rejection experienced by the prophets of the past is made parallel to Jesus’ own death. For Christians, the vineyard also speaks of God’s love poured out in the blood of Christ, given to us for the forgiveness of sin. Grafted onto Christ the vine at baptism, we are nourished with wine and bread so that we may share Christ’s sufferings and know the power of his resurrection.
image: Red Primtivo grapes near Salento, Italy. Photo by Cosimo Calabrese. Copyright © 2025 Getty Images Plus via Getty Images/Moment Collection. Used by permission.