Jesus-and-His-Church is the cornerstone

Father Vincent Hawkswell explained the biblical meanings behind the readings for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A. He noted that the first reading depicts a vineyard representing Israel and its owner representing God the Father.

In the Gospel parable, Hawkswell said the vineyard owner leases land to tenants who kill the owner's servants and eventually his son. He identified the servants as the prophets and the son as Jesus, while the tenants represent the religious leaders of Israel.

Hawkswell noted that Jesus used the parable to address chief priests and elders, referencing Psalm 118. He explained that while builders rejected the stone, God made it the cornerstone of a plan to save the world. Hawkswell added that St. Peter later applied this same description to Jesus.