Word to the Wise
Friday, February 26, 2016 - 2nd Week of Lent - Fri
[Gen 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a and Matt 21:33-43, 45-46]FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2016 FRIDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK IN LENT [Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a and Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46] "Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here." [Genesis] "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance." [Matthew] Joseph barely managed to escape his brothers' murderous jealousy thanks to Reuben. Jesus was not so fortunate. His parable today was aimed directly at the religious authorities of his time, the chief priests and the Pharisees. Both Joseph and Jesus would triumph in different ways but Jesus' quote about the rejected cornerstone captures the essence: "By the Lord has this been done...." The vineyard of the Lord is the context for the parable. The religious authorities of Jesus' time had failed in their stewardship. Furthermore, they would kill the heir and think their position was once more unthreatened. The Romans disillusioned them of that in 70 A.D., when they destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. All of us who work in that vineyard need to understand the responsibility we have. When the Lord asks for the grapes, what will we have to show?AMEN