Listen to the music! The song of the vineyard starts off bright and lively. It is a beautiful image of what could be. The vineyard has so much potential and is curated by none other than God himself. In everything, God's breath of life, his expert handiwork and wisdom, is evident, and his unique flavors are hidden, ready to blossom and bear fruit. There is so much potential!

When the song crescendos and you expect it to reach a bright moment-it suddenly becomes tragic. The yield of fruit is not good. Sour, rotten, tasteless, and diseased grapes arise. Something has gone terribly wrong, and it is everywhere in the vineyard. We get to the dark but necessary end that the vineyard must be laid to waste. The fruit cannot continue to thrive.

The vineyard here represents God's land. It is our community. It is us, and how we live and bear fruits of God's spirit-his love, justice, and life for all. May the song be a wakeup call to reorient our lives to God's life-giving spirit.


Application: Lord, you are the source of life. May we trust in you to bear good fruit.
One Word: Produce good fruit