A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mt 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.
REFLECTION
"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.”
There is a quote, author unknown, that has been in my memory: "We cannot impart words of life to others if we don't possess them ourselves."
There is no magical formula for evangelization, either to people who have never heard of God nor to people who know God but not yet have lived His unbelievable overflowing love.
Joseph's brothers had no love for Joseph as their sin of envy overwhelmed them.
The tenants of the vineyards did not care for what they had, but instead worked themselves up to kill out of greed.
What does the Lord require of us? Simple, to do right by others, whomever the Lord brings into our lives. To lead others to Jesus is to show a love for God that shines through us. And as we live life and share His love, others will know who God is.
And how can we reach this?--pray and stay focused on Jesus.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
"Remember the marvels the Lord has done".
(Psalm 105)
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