Merciful Father, may our acts of penance bring us to your forgiveness, open our hearts to your love, and prepare us for the coming feast of the resurrection. Amen
Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, he will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done,and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
It is easy for us to “understand” this story because we see it from the “other side of the resurrection.” We believe the chief priests and the Pharisees were very concerned about the effects the radical changes of Jesus’ message would make to their lives. But today, we know that Jesus died for our sins. But do we place our complete trust in his hands? Do we follow his “radical teachings?” Through prayer and reflection we can learn from our experiences and those of others. We can see there is a better way to live our lives. Asking God to help us find our inner strength and resources; to help us in our spiritual growth may require more quiet time, more introspection after reading his word, even more awareness of the world around us. We need to allow our faith and trust in Go,d to become the cornerstone in our lives.
Loving God, Caring parent, we are a children who so often turn our back on your love. Please accept our small acts of sorrow today and help to release us from the self-absorption that closes our hearts to you. As we journey through Lent, let us remember the feast you have prepared for us in the resurrection and let us be filled with thanks to you. Amen
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