Daily Reflection for Friday, March 13, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031320.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A
Responsorial: Psalm 105: 16-21
Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“ 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.” Matthew 21: 43
Today’s Gospel provides the parable of the landowner who planted a vineyard and prepared everything needed for vintage wine including a grape press and a tower to watch over the vineyard. “Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When the vintage is ready, the landowner sends servants to “obtain his produce.” Matthew 21: 33-34.
His produce? Don’t the tenants get the produce? They did the work of caring for the grapes. Why does the absentee landlord get the produce? The terms of the lease should define who gets the produce.
So let’s see the lease. It is the Bible. We’re told many times that the earth and all that are in it belong to God. (See Corinthians 10:26, Psalm 89:11, 1 Chronicles 29: 11, Deuteronomy 10: 14, Exodus 9:29)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking to the “chief priests and the elders”— the faith community’s leaders, and He’s telling them that the stone they reject will become the cornerstone. The kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to those who will produce its fruit.
The chief priest and elders—the faith community’s leaders—deserve some blame and are an easy target. But Jesus is also talking to us. We need to produce the fruits of the Spirit which are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. Galatians 5: 22.
We also need to care for the earth-- God’s vineyard--and all that is in it. All the earth including all the people. It’s up to us or it will be given to a people that will produce its fruit.
Lord, thank you for placing us in your vineyard. Teach us to produce.
God Bless You+
Ruth Mytty