Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Lectionary: 234
Lectionary: 234
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons,
for he was the child of his old age;
and he had made him a long tunic.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons,
they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.
One day, when his brothers had gone
to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem,
Israel said to Joseph,
"Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem.
Get ready; I will send you to them."
So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan.
They noticed him from a distance,
and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him.
They said to one another: "Here comes that master dreamer!
Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here;
we could say that a wild beast devoured him.
We shall then see what comes of his dreams."
When Reuben heard this,
he tried to save him from their hands, saying,
"We must not take his life.
Instead of shedding blood," he continued,
"just throw him into that cistern there in the desert;
but do not kill him outright."
His purpose was to rescue him from their hands
and return him to his father.
So when Joseph came up to them,
they stripped him of the long tunic he had on;
then they took him and threw him into the cistern,
which was empty and dry.
They then sat down to their meal.
Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,
their camels laden with gum, balm and resin
to be taken down to Egypt.
Judah said to his brothers:
"What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?
Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites,
instead of doing away with him ourselves.
After all, he is our brother, our own flesh."
His brothers agreed.
They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.
for he was the child of his old age;
and he had made him a long tunic.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons,
they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.
One day, when his brothers had gone
to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem,
Israel said to Joseph,
"Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem.
Get ready; I will send you to them."
So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan.
They noticed him from a distance,
and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him.
They said to one another: "Here comes that master dreamer!
Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here;
we could say that a wild beast devoured him.
We shall then see what comes of his dreams."
When Reuben heard this,
he tried to save him from their hands, saying,
"We must not take his life.
Instead of shedding blood," he continued,
"just throw him into that cistern there in the desert;
but do not kill him outright."
His purpose was to rescue him from their hands
and return him to his father.
So when Joseph came up to them,
they stripped him of the long tunic he had on;
then they took him and threw him into the cistern,
which was empty and dry.
They then sat down to their meal.
Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead,
their camels laden with gum, balm and resin
to be taken down to Egypt.
Judah said to his brothers:
"What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?
Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites,
instead of doing away with him ourselves.
After all, he is our brother, our own flesh."
His brothers agreed.
They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 105:16-17, 18-19,
20-21
R. (5a) Remember
the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
and the word of the LORD proved him true.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Verse Before
The GospelJN 3:16
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son;
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
Gospel 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,
AHe 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, ADid 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.
"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,
AHe 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, ADid 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.
Meditation:
The stone which the builders rejected
Do
you ever feel cut off or separated from God? Joseph was violently rejected by
his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. His betrayal and suffering,
however, resulted in redemption and reconciliation for his brothers. "Fear
not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but
God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive,
as they are today" (Genesis 50:19-20). Joseph prefigures Jesus who was
betrayed by one of his own disciples and put to death on the cross for our
redemption. Jesus came to reconcile us with an all-just and all-merciful God.
His parables point to the mission he came to accomplish - to bring us the
kingdom of God.
Parable
of the vineyard
What is the message of the parable of the vineyard? Jesus' story about an absentee landlord and his not-so-good tenants would have made sense to his audience. The hills of Galilee were lined with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to let out their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of collecting rent.Why did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the scribes and Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus' listeners would have likely understood this parable as referring to God's dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people.
What is the message of the parable of the vineyard? Jesus' story about an absentee landlord and his not-so-good tenants would have made sense to his audience. The hills of Galilee were lined with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to let out their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of collecting rent.Why did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the scribes and Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus' listeners would have likely understood this parable as referring to God's dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people.
This
parable speaks to us today as well. It richly conveys some important truths
about God and the way he deals with his people. First, it tells us of God's
generosity and trust. The vineyard is well equipped with everything the tenants
need. The owner went away and left the vineyard in the hands of the tenants.
God, likewise trusts us enough to give us freedom to run life as we choose.
This parable also tells us of God's patience and justice. Not once, but many
times he forgives the tenants their debts. But while the tenants take advantage
of the owner's patience, his judgment and justice prevail in the end.
Gift
of the kingdom
Jesus foretold both his death on the cross and his ultimate triumph. He knew he would be rejected and put to death, but he also knew that would not be the end. After rejection would come glory - the glory of his resurrection from the grave and his ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven. The Lord blesses his people today with the gift of his kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And he promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him (see John 15:1-11). He entrusts his gifts and grace (unmerited favor and blessing) to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard - the body of Christ in our midst today. He promises that our labor for him will not be in vain if we persevere with faith to the end (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). We can expect trials and even persecution. But in the end we will see triumph. Do you follow and serve the Lord Jesus with joyful hope and confidence in the victory he has won for you and the gift of abundant new life in the Holy Spirit?
Jesus foretold both his death on the cross and his ultimate triumph. He knew he would be rejected and put to death, but he also knew that would not be the end. After rejection would come glory - the glory of his resurrection from the grave and his ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven. The Lord blesses his people today with the gift of his kingdom - a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And he promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him (see John 15:1-11). He entrusts his gifts and grace (unmerited favor and blessing) to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard - the body of Christ in our midst today. He promises that our labor for him will not be in vain if we persevere with faith to the end (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). We can expect trials and even persecution. But in the end we will see triumph. Do you follow and serve the Lord Jesus with joyful hope and confidence in the victory he has won for you and the gift of abundant new life in the Holy Spirit?
"Thank
you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us - for all
the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful redeemer,
friend, and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and
follow you more nearly, for your own sake." (prayer of St. Richard of
Chichester, 13th century)
A
Daily Quote for Lent: Life
through death, by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Unless
the Word of God had first assumed our mortal flesh He could not have died for
us. Only in that way was the immortal God able to die and to give life to
mortal humans. Therefore, by this double sharing He brought about a wonderful
exchange. We made death possible for Him, and He made life possible for
us." (excerpt from Sermon 218C, 1)
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, MATTHEW 21:33-43, 45-46
Lenten Weekday
(Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Psalm 105)
Lenten Weekday
(Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Psalm 105)
KEY VERSE: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" (v. 42).
TO KNOW: Jesus used Isaiah's imagery of Israel as a vineyard (Is 5:1-7). In this parable, which becomes an allegory, the owner (God) lovingly cared for his vineyard (Israel), and in his absence he placed the tenants (the religious leaders) in charge. When vintage time came (the messianic age), the owner sent his servants (the prophets) to gather the fruit of the harvest, but the tenants treated them shamefully. Finally, the owner sent his own son (Jesus), but they dragged him "outside the vineyard" (Hb 13:12) and killed him. Because Israel had rejected the one who God had sent, others (the Gentiles) would benefit from God's mercy, and they would be the ones to yield an abundant harvest. We are tenants of God’s vineyard, the world, entrusted with its care. Everything that we have is on loan.
TO LOVE: How am I using the gifts that God gave me? My money? My time? My talents?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to produce good fruit in this Lenten season.
NOTE: What are the differences between parables and allegories?
Parables are short stories that are told in order to get a point across and occur in both testaments of the Bible. The word "parable" (Gk. parabole) was generally used in reference to any short narrative that had symbolic meaning. There are many stories and saying of Jesus in the New Testament that are identified as parables, but not all of these are parables in the true sense. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35) may be regarded as a true parable because it is a complete story with a beginning, ending and plot. An allegory, however, is quite different. They are stories with two levels of meaning: human activity and spiritual reality. In an allegory virtually every person, thing, place and event has a symbolic meaning. Examples of allegories are the visions in Daniel 8:1-11, and Ezekiel 1. In the New Testament, nearly every chapter of Revelation contains allegorical visions.
Friday 22 March 2019
Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28. Psalm 104(105):16-21. Matthew
21:33-43, 45-46
Remember the marvels the Lord has done – Psalm 104(105):16-21.
‘This was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.’
Israel so often fell short. God created a beautiful vineyard and
a rich, heavily yielding crop. God gave them everything they needed and they
chose not to acknowledge that. Israel turned their backs on God. They did not
give back to God and they did not live the fruits of God’s love in their lives.
As a result, everything in the vineyard, and for Israel, fell apart.
There is an important message in this gospel. The riches of
God’s harvest and abundant love are there for each of us. Living God’s way
brings a richness to our lives which nothing else can because God only wants
what is best for us in all circumstances. If we are faithful to God, and the fruit
of God’s love shines in our lives, God is seen and known by others.
Saint Nicholas Owen
Saint of the Day for March 22
(? – 1606)
 |
| Edward Oldcorne; Nicholas Owen | Gaspar Bouttats |
Saint Nicholas Owen’s Story
Nicholas, familiarly known as “Little John,” was small in
stature but big in the esteem of his fellow Jesuits.
Born at Oxford, this humble artisan saved the lives of many
priests and laypersons in England during the penal times (1559-1829), when a
series of statutes punished Catholics for the practice of their faith. Over a
period of about 20 years, Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding
places for priests throughout the country.
His work, which he did completely by himself as both architect
and builder, was so good that time and time again priests in hiding were
undetected by raiding parties. Nicholas was a genius at finding and creating
places of safety: subterranean passages, small spaces between walls,
impenetrable recesses.
At one point he was even able to mastermind the escape of two
Jesuits from the Tower of London. Whenever Nicholas set out to design such
hiding places, he began by receiving the holy Eucharist, and he would turn to
God in prayer throughout the long, dangerous construction process.
After many years at his unusual task, Nicholas entered the
Society of Jesus and served as a lay brother, although—for very good
reasons—his connection with the Jesuits was kept secret.
After a number of narrow escapes, he himself was finally caught
in 1594. Despite protracted torture, Nicholas refused to disclose the names of
other Catholics. After being released following the payment of a ransom,
“Little John” went back to his work. He was arrested again in 1606. This time
he was subjected to horrible tortures, suffering an agonizing death. The
jailers tried suggesting that he had confessed and committed suicide, but his
heroism and sufferings soon were widely known.
Nicholas Owen was canonized in 1970 as one of the 40 Martyrs of
England and Wales.
Reflection
Nicholas was a clever builder and architect who used his skills
to protect endangered priests. Without his help, hundreds of English Catholics
would have been deprived of the sacraments. His gift for spotting unlikely
places to hide priests was impressive, but more impressive was his habit of
seeking support for his work in prayer and the Eucharist. If we follow his
example, we may also discover surprising ways to put our skills to God’s
service.
Lectio Divina: Matthew 21:33-43.45-46
Friday, March 22, 2019
Season of Lent
1) Opening prayer
God, we do not want to die;
we want to live.
We want to be happy
but without paying the price.
We belong to our times,
when sacrifice and suffering are out of fashion.
God, make our life worth living.
Give us back the age-old realization,
that life means to be born
again and again in pain,
that it may become again
a journey of hope to You,
together with Christ Jesus, our Lord.
we want to live.
We want to be happy
but without paying the price.
We belong to our times,
when sacrifice and suffering are out of fashion.
God, make our life worth living.
Give us back the age-old realization,
that life means to be born
again and again in pain,
that it may become again
a journey of hope to You,
together with Christ Jesus, our Lord.
2) Gospel reading - 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, AHe
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, ADid 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.
3) Reflection
• The text of today’s Gospel forms part of a greater whole which
includes Mathew 21:23-40. The chief priests and the elders had asked Jesus by
what authority He did those things (Mt 21:23). They considered themselves the
custodians of everything and they did not want anybody to do things without
their permission. Jesus’ answer is divided into three parts: 1) He, in
turn, asks them a question because He wants to know, in their opinion, if
John the Baptist was from heaven or from earth (Mt 21:24-27); 2) He then
tells them the parable of the two sons (Mt 21:28-32); 3) He tells them
the parable of the vineyard (Mt 21:33-46), which is today’s Gospel.
• Matthew 21:33-40: The parable of the vineyard. Jesus begins as
follows: “Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted
a vineyard, he fenced it around, dug a winepress in it and built a tower.” The
parable is a beautiful summary of the history of Israel, taken from the prophet
Isaiah (Is 5:1-7). Jesus addresses Himself to the chief priests, to the elders
(Mt 21:23) and to the Pharisees (Mt 21:45) and He gives a response to the
question which they addressed to Him about the origin of His authority (Mt
21:23). Through this parable, Jesus clarifies several things: (a) He reveals
the origin of His authority: He is the Son, the heir; (b) He denounces the
abuse of the authority of the tenants, that is of the priests and elders who
were not concerned and did not take care of the people of God; (c) He defends
the authority of the prophets, sent by God, but who were killed by the priests
and the elders; (d) He unmasks the authority by which they manipulate the
religion and kill the Son, because they do not want to lose the source of
income which they have accumulated for themselves throughout the centuries.
• Matthew 21:41: The sentence which they give to themselves. At
the end of the parable Jesus asks: “Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes,
what will he do to those tenants?” They are not aware that the parable was
speaking precisely of them. This is why, with the response that they give, they
decree their own condemnation: “The chief priests and the elders of the people
answered: ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the
vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him at the proper
time’.” Several times Jesus uses this same method. He leads the person to tell
the truth about himself, without knowing that he is condemning himself. For
example, in the case of the Pharisee who condemns the young woman, considering
her a sinner (Luke 7:42-43), and in the case of the parable of the two sons (Mt
21:28-32).
• Matthew 21:42-46: The sentence given by themselves was
confirmed by their behavior. From the clarification given by Jesus, the chief
priests, the elders and the Pharisees understand that the parable is about
them, but they do not convert. Rather, they keep to their own plan to kill
Jesus. They will reject “the cornerstone.” But they do not have the courage to
do it openly because they fear the reaction of the people.
• The diverse groups which held the power at the time of Jesus.
In today’s Gospel three groups appear, which, at that time, governed: the
priests, the elders and the Pharisees. Then, some brief information on the
power which each of these groups and others had is given:
a) The priests: They were the ones in charge of the worship in
the Temple. The people paid the Temple a tithe and other taxes and
offerings. The High Priest occupied a very important place in the life of
the nation, especially after the exile. He was chosen and appointed from among
the three or four aristocratic families who possessed more power and riches.
b) The elders or the Chief Priests of the People: They were the
local leaders in the different villages of the city. Their origin came from the
heads of the ancient tribes.
c) The Sadducees: they were the lay aristocratic elite of
society who wanted to maintain a priestly caste. Many of them were rich
merchants or landlords. From the religious point of view they were liberal in
their willingness to incorporate Hellenism into their lives. They did not
accept the changes supported by the Pharisees, for example, faith in the
resurrection and the existence of angels.
d) The Pharisees: Pharisee means “separated.” They believed in
the Oral Law handed down from Moses and that through the perfect observance of
the Law of purity, people would succeed in being pure, separated and holy as
the Law and Tradition demanded! Because of the exemplary witness of their life
according to the norms of the time, their moral authority was widespread in the
villages of Galilee.
e) Scribe or doctor of the Law: They were the ones in charge of
teaching. They dedicated their life to the study of the Law of God and taught
people what to do to observe all the Law of God. Not all the Scribes belonged
to the same line. Some were united with the Pharisees, others with the Sadducees.
4) Personal questions
• Have you sometimes felt that you were unduly controlled or
misunderstood? What was your reaction? Was it the same as that of Jesus?
• If Jesus returned today and told us the same parable, would it be as relevant? What would the reaction be from society and on a personal level?
• If Jesus returned today and told us the same parable, would it be as relevant? What would the reaction be from society and on a personal level?
5) Concluding prayer
As far as heaven is above the earth,
so strong is the faithful love of the Lord for those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does He put our faults. (Ps 103:11-12)
so strong is the faithful love of the Lord for those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does He put our faults. (Ps 103:11-12)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét