Is 5:1-7 Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 Phil 4:6-9 Mt 21:33-43

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

In today’s passages there is a common theme of taking care of the fruit of the vineyard.  The parable, in these readings, is about God’s purpose for mankind: to produce fruit for him.

In my education class, we shadow multiple teachers from multiple schools in order to observe and gain knowledge in techniques that work and don’t work in the classroom. My first experience was at a wonderful school; it had been taken care of much like the fruitful vineyard. I quickly discovered how great of an impact the teachers had on the children. As I observed, I noticed how much patience is required to be a teacher. There will be times when your students agitate you, or do not listen, or become distracting; it is in those times some people would give up and call it quits. However, teachers do not. Teachers care for their students. Teachers stay after school to offer extra help.  Teachers skip lunch in order to answer a student’s question.  Teachers spend hours grading papers, scribbling comments in the corner just to help improve that student’s writing skills by an inch. Teachers give second chances. But what teachers do best is never give up.  Teachers never give up on their students, just like God never gives up on us.

I believe truly great people in history are those who find greater meaning in their lives within this world.  I believe teachers have found that meaning. Teachers give their time, energy and effort to produce the fruit of the next generation.  So to every type of teacher out there, thank you.

May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.