Gospel Reflection For The 1st day of March in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Gospel
Matthew 21:33-46
33 Hear ye another parable. There was a man an householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen; and went into a strange country. 34 And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof. 35 And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants more than the former; and they did to them in like manner. 37 And last of all he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence my son. 38 But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance. 39 And taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen?
41 They say to him: He will bring those evil men to an evil end; and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, that shall render him the fruit in due season. 42 Jesus saith to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? By the Lord this has been done; and it is wonderful in our eyes. 43 Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they knew that he spoke of them.
46 And seeking to lay hands on him, they feared the multitudes: because they held him as a prophet.
This was a moment of great confrontation between our Lord and the religious officials of the Jews. Although speaking once again through parables, Jesus was not as vague. This time, He told them plainly that because they and their ancestors had rejected God, rebelled and killed the prophets their inheritance was being taken from them. So accurately did He read their hearts, He let them know that He knew they were already plotting to kill Him. Jesus would be the cornerstone upon which the new covenant would be built, rejected by those to whom God had given the role of establishing the true religion.
I imagine this must have been a moment of great sadness for our Lord. He had literally given His people everything imaginable, in miraculous fashion, over thousands of years…. Everything but His own life. Now, He acknowledged that the end had come. There was nothing left to do. They had literally rejected even the love of God. No wonder He wept over Jerusalem.
Each of us is offered the same gifts as the Hebrews and more through the Catholic Church. Jesus, who literally died for each of us gives us love, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life and all manner of blessings. As He explained to His Apostles, He forgives again and again more than we could ever comprehend. All we have to do is to accept His love, believe in Him and follow His commandments. The choice belongs to each of us. Our Lord will never force us. Like the “chief priests and elders of the people” we may reject His love. If we do, that is the greatest tragedy imaginable. Unfathomable joy awaits us if we accept it. Of course, there will be suffering and difficult times, as well. Jesus promises us that. Like The Blessed Virgin Mary, we have but to say yes and our entire lives are changed… eternity is changed… everything hinges on our assent. That is literally the most important choice each of us will ever make. Choose wisely. The reward is unfathomable!
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Gospel passages are taken from the Douay Rheims Bible.