Pastor's Reflection - October 4, 2026

Christ, the Cornerstone of Our Lives

     In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the unfaithful tenants and concludes with a solemn warning: “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43).

The vineyard represents God’s people and the life entrusted to us. God lovingly cultivates us, gives us His grace, and calls us to bear fruits of goodness, justice, and holiness. Yet the parable also reveals how easily pride, selfishness, and resistance can lead us to reject God’s will.

     The servants sent by the owner are mistreated, and finally the owner’s beloved son is cast out and killed. In this son we recognize Jesus Christ, rejected and crucified by the world, yet raised from the dead to become “the very stone which the builders rejected” and the cornerstone of God’s plan.

     A cornerstone gives stability and direction to an entire building. In the same way, Christ must be the foundation of our personal lives, our families, and our communities. Without Him, our efforts may appear successful for a time, but they lack the lasting strength and purpose that come from God. With Him, even suffering and weakness can become part of a greater plan of love.

     The Church, as the People of the New Covenant, exists in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. Therefore, every renewal in the Church begins with a renewed awareness of our living union with Him. We are not called merely to admire Jesus from a distance, but to remain close to Him as branches remain joined to the vine. Only by abiding in Christ can we bear fruit that endures.

     This Gospel also invites us to examine how we are caring for the vineyard entrusted to us. Are we offering God the fruits of faith, compassion, forgiveness, and service? Do our choices reflect gratitude for all that He has placed in our hands? Authority, responsibility, and leadership, whether in the Church, the family, the workplace, or society, are not privileges for personal gain. They are invitations to serve God and others faithfully.

     As we continue through this month of the Holy Rosary, we entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who leads us always to her Son. We also give thanks for the Guardian Angels, whom the Church venerates as ministers of God’s loving care. From the beginning of life until its end, God surrounds each person with His protection and guidance.

     May we remain firmly anchored in Christ, the true cornerstone. May our lives produce fruits worthy of the Kingdom, and may Mary and the holy Angels help us to recognize God’s presence, resist evil, and reveal His goodness in the world.

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor