But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
Again, the owner sent more servants; but they were treated in the same way. Finally,
he sent his son, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they thought,
‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let us kill him,
and his inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?”
They said to him, “He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others,
who will pay him in due time.”
And Jesus replied, “Have you never read what the Scriptures say?
The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing, and we marvel at it.
Therefore I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you,
and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
LECTIO DIVINA:
Read: We can consider this Sunday as part of the “initial preparation” for the great
feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of Ordinary time. The context of the Gospel of Matthew,
Jesus has already entered Jerusalem as the Messiah. With this parable Jesus speaks about his mission.
First he speaks about his relationship with the Father,
then second, about his desire to be welcomed by his subjects, and third,
about his fate – his death.
Reflect: Jesus, the Son of the Father, came to save sinners.
All who welcome him and give him what is due to the Father
– submission to the son – can be members of the Kingdom.
Refusal to submit and accept the Son can only mean judgment!
Pray: O God, you send us many missionaries to remind us of your call to holiness
(refer to the 2nd reading) and you shower us with graces again and again.
Grant that we may not ignore your invitation to accept you as our Lord and Master.
Act: We have been blessed abundantly! Have we acknowledged the source of our blessings? Is Jesus the Lord in my life?
My Lord looks for “good fruit” from me. What can I offer my Lord?
May we not earn the ire of our Lord for failing to bear “good fruit.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020