The Gospel reading for today comes from Luke 20:9-18.  It's the story of the man who sends his servants to check out a vineyard he owns, only to have the workmen in the vineyard abuse the servants. After several tries, the man sends his own son, who the workmen kill in the hopes of claiming the vineyard for themselves.

God sends prophets, messages, and signs about what he expects us to do.  Over and over, we reject those efforts so that we can do what we want to do.   It's a very old problem. In the Old Testament reading for today, Isa. 1:21-31, the prophet describes a world in which judges take bribes, rulers rebel against God, and on one defends the orphan or the widow.   It's a call to repentance, then and now.

The New Testament reading for today comes from 1 Thess. 2:1-12. There, we are encouraged "to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."  God reaches out to us: he does not expect us to accomplish great things on our own, but only to refrain from rebellion and to follow the path that he set for us. 

May we lead lives worthy of God.