8th October Sunday 27A. The Vineyard song.   Fr Teddy looked around the congregation and wondered to himself how many of them, men and women of all ages, had a problem with alcohol.  He himself had struggled with this and still belonged to AA so on this day when the readings spoke of vineyards he decided to include some reference to that for the benefit of the families who were suffering from this.  He shared, “cultivating and tending vineyards are good, wine is a blessing but can also be a curse. I know about that myself and thank AA, Alanon and also the Pioneer Association members who choose not to drink alcohol in support ovinf those who do have this problem.” 

Reflect, share, act. Scripture. The prophet said, “Let me sing for my beloved a love song. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.  He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines. He looked for it to yield grapes but it yielded wild grapes.  I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will break down its wall and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste.  The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. He looked for justice, but behold found bloodshed. Is 5:1-7.   Pope Francis. Drug use, alcoholism, gambling and other addictions are scourges of our time, causing immense suffering and even break-up for many families. The family could be the place where these are prevented and overcome, but society and politics fail to see that families at risk lose the ability to act to help their members. AL 51. Pray: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that walking together we may renew the face of the earth.