During Advent our Reading often come from the prophet Isaiah.

This is the beloved  Song of the Vineyard (5:1-7).

Now let me sing of my friend,

my beloved’s song about his vineyard.

My friend had a vineyard

on a fertile hillside;

He spaded it, cleared it of stones,

and planted the choicest vines;

Within it he built a watchtower,

and hewed out a wine press.

Then he waited for the crop of grapes,

but it yielded rotten grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem, people of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard:

What more could be done for my vineyard

that I did not do?

Why, when I waited for the crop of grapes,

did it yield rotten grapes?

Now, I will let you know

what I am going to do to my vineyard:

Take away its hedge, give it to grazing,

break through its wall, let it be trampled!*

Yes, I will make it a ruin:

it shall not be pruned or hoed,

but will be overgrown with thorns and briers;

I will command the clouds

not to rain upon it.

The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,

the people of Judah, his cherished plant;

He waited for judgment, but see, bloodshed!

for justice, but hark, the outcry!* 

Now, our Founding Fathers  spaded and planted the Vineyard 

we call America.  But what’s happened to it ~ to us, O my people? 

Where are those who care for the vineyard and not their own profit, O my people?  

Isaiah wasn’t afraid to speak a tough message in his day.  We need him today! 

Before you go here, as our Advent season intensifies, here is the Overture for Handel’s Messiah Click here. 

God bless you and have a great day! 

Bob Traupman

Contemplative writer