Vineyards Pentecost 10

Sinéad O'Connor writes the following song where Jerusalem refers to Israel and Judah refers to Palestine. It is a moving prayer based on our readings for this week; Isaiah 5:1-7 describing the promising vineyard that gives only wild grapes and God's frustration. Psalm 80 parallels Isaiah but asks for God’s intervention: “Restore us, O Lord of hosts. Let your face shine, that we may be saved”.

If you had a vineyard
On a fruitful hill
And you fenced it and cleared it
Of all stones yountil
You planted it
With the choicest of vine
And you even built a tower
And a press to make wine
And you looked that it would bring forth sweet grapes
And it gave only wild grapes
What would you say
Jerusalem and Judah
You be the judges I pray
Between me and my vineyard
This is what God says

 What more could I have done in it
That I did not do in it
Why when I ask it for sweetness
It brings only bitterness

 For the vineyard of the lord of hosts
Is the house of Israel
And the men of Judah
His pleasant plant

 And he looks for justice but beholds oppression
And he hopes for equality but hears a cry
Jerusalem and Judah
This is god's reply

 Sadness will come
To those who build house to house
And lay field to field 'til there's room
For none but you to dwell in the land
Oh in the land

 And sadness will come
To those who call evil good
And good evil who present
Darkness as light
And light as darkness
Who present as sweetness
Only the things which are
bitterness
For the vineyard of the lord of hosts
Is the house of Israel
And the men of Judah his pleasant plant
Oh oh his pleasant plant

 Oh that my eyes were a fountain of tears
That I might weep for my poor people

 For every boot stamped with fierceness
For every cloak rolled in blood
Jerusalem and Judah
I'd cry if I could
Songwriters: Sinead Marie Bernarde O'connor
If You Had a Vineyard lyrics © O/B/O Apra Amcos

 Luke 12:49-59

49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”