Today’s feast is nothing less than our yearly, tangible reminder of who belongs in first place. In the blessing of the grapes we carry on the Old Testament commandment of God that whatever is first; first born child, first born animal, first fruits of harvest, these belong to God.  As grapes were always the first fruit to come out of the harvest, we acknowledge these first fruits as belonging in a special way to Him who gave the entire gift of this year’s harvest.  In the yearly blessing of grapes we refresh ourselves in a life lesson we are to use every day, every hour; if not for God we would have nothing, we would be nothing. And as we grow stronger in this discipline of putting God first, we are promised that all other important things will fall into place, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,’ says Jesus ‘and all these other things will be given to you as well (Mt 6:33).’