Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Homily by Fr. Zenon Racki on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 6, 2025
It is very important for us to remember that our life is a gift from God. We must use it correctly so that we bear good fruit throughout our lives. And when one day we stand before the Lord, we will have to answer for how we used this gift.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Beloved in Christ!
Today we read the parable of the vineyard. It is full of deep meaning. It is sad to say that when Jesus came to earth as the Saviour and finally came to Jerusalem to call the workers of the vineyard—the Israeli people, their priests, high priests, Pharisees, and representatives of the people—to repentance, so that they would understand that He was the Saviour they had been waiting for centuries, they decided to kill Him. This parable is also about Israel, the Israeli people, who did not accept the Saviour, did not accept Christ, condemned Him to death, and rejected the Son of God.
It is evident that the Lord God, who is the owner of the vineyard, the owner of this land, and the owner of the Israeli people, was dissatisfied with these actions. The murders of prophets, righteous people who prepared this nation for the Saviour, and ultimately the murder of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
What can we learn from this parable? What thoughts can we draw from it for ourselves?
The first thing is that God is patient. He waits for us, just as He waited for the people of Israel and every other nation, to bear the fruits He desires. We see that God is merciful; He waits for the fruits of our lives. Even when we reject Him, He continues to wait for us to return to Him.
The second thing is that this parable shows that time has its limits, and from time to time God’s patience turns into God’s justice. Those who deserve good receive good, and those who deserve punishment for their deeds may be punished and rejected by God.
The third thing is that all those leaders who do not justify God’s trust can be replaced by others who will bear the fruits that God expects.
Therefore, it is very important for us to remember that our life is a gift from God. We must use it correctly so that we bear good fruit throughout our lives. God has given us this great gift—life—and presented it to us. And when one day we stand before the Lord, we will have to answer for how we used this gift.
A person has such a great treasure—life. Obviously, we often have other treasures, such as money, and we try to invest them well in order to make a profit. Life is our treasure, and the only question is where we invest it.
If we invest it correctly, we will receive the greatest profit in eternity — eternal life with the Lord God. Each of us has the opportunity to bear spiritual fruit in order to become better and more perfect and to make the world a better place. We are called to fulfil this mission. And we must realise that God gave us life, gave us the earth, and gave us the task of filling it with goodness, enjoying these gifts, and sharing them with others. Yes, this earth is not ours — it is His; it is God’s. And each of us has a designated time to live, work, do good, and love here.
And we must take this seriously, because one day we will have to give an account to the Lord. Let us ask ourselves: how do I live on this earth? Do I cherish what God has given me? Have I loved on this earth? When Jesus Christ comes, will the Lord God find good fruit in my garden? Will He also find peace, forgiveness, and love in my heart?
Therefore, today, as we reflect on this parable of the vineyard, we must offer a sincere prayer of gratitude. Our lips should sing and pray to the Lord God with gratitude for giving us this great gift of life, for giving us a “vineyard”, and for giving us the opportunity to live, to exist, to love, and to do good deeds on this earth.
