Daily Readings - Fri Mar 02 2018

First Reading - Genesis 37.3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28

³Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had conceived him in his old age. And he made him a tunic, woven of many colors⁴Then his brothers, seeing that he was loved by his father more than all his other sons, hated him, and they were not able to say anything peacefully to him¹²And while his brothers were lodging at Shechem, pasturing their father’s flocks¹³Israel said to him: "Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Come, I will send you to them." And when he answered¹⁷And the man said to him: "They have withdrawn from this place. But I heard them saying, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ " Therefore, Joseph continued on after his brothers, and he found them at Dothan¹⁸And, when they had seen him from afar, before he approached them, they decided to kill him¹⁹And they said one to another: "Behold, the dreamer approaches²⁰Come, let us kill him and cast him into the old cistern. And let us say: ‘an evil wild beast has devoured him.’ And then it will become apparent what his dreams will do for him.²¹But Reuben, on hearing this, strove to free him from their hands, and he said²²"Do not take away his life, nor shed blood. But throw him into this cistern, which is in the wilderness, and so keep your hands harmless." But he said this, wanting to rescue him from their hands, so as to return him to his father²³And so, as soon as he came to his brothers, they very quickly stripped him of his tunic, which was ankle-length and woven of many colors²⁴and they cast him into an old cistern, which held no water²⁵And sitting down to eat bread, they saw some Ishmaelites, travelers coming from Gilead, with their camels, carrying spices, and resin, and oil of myrrh into Egypt²⁶Therefore, Judah said to his brothers: "What will it profit us, if we kill our brother and conceal his blood²⁷It is better that he be sold to the Ishmaelites, and then our hands will not be defiled. For he is our brother and our flesh." His brothers agreed to his words²⁸And when the Midianite merchants were passing by, they drew him from the cistern, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And these led him into Egypt

Gospel - Matthew 21.33-43, 45-46

Matthew

Chapter 21

³³Listen to another parable. There was a man, the father of a family, who planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a press in it, and built a tower. And he loaned it out to farmers, and he set out to sojourn abroad³⁴Then, when the time of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, so that they might receive its fruits³⁵And the farmers apprehended his servants; they struck one, and killed another, and stoned yet another³⁶Again, he sent other servants, more than before; and they treated them similarly³⁷Then, at the very end, he sent his son to them, saying: ‘They will revere my son.³⁸But the farmers, seeing the son, said among themselves: ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and then we will have his inheritance.³⁹And apprehending him, they cast him outside the vineyard, and they killed him⁴⁰Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those farmers?⁴¹They said to him, "He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and he will loan out his vineyard to other farmers, who shall repay to him the fruit in its time.⁴²Jesus said to them: "Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?⁴³Therefore, I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and it shall be given to a people who shall produce its fruits⁴⁵And when the leaders of the priests, and the Pharisees had heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them⁴⁶And though they sought to take hold of him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful narratives of rejection and betrayal, each offering profound lessons for our spiritual journey. The first reading from Genesis recounts the story of Joseph and his brothers. Driven by jealousy over Jacob's favoritism, the brothers conspire against Joseph. Their envy leads them to abandon their brother, choosing instead to sell him into slavery. This tale of sibling rivalry reveals the destructive nature of jealousy and the consequences of allowing such emotions to govern our actions. Yet, even in this darkness, there is a glimmer of hope—Reuben's attempt to save Joseph and Judah's suggestion to sell him instead of killing him hint at the complexity of human morality and the possibility of redemption. In the Gospel, Jesus presents the parable of the vineyard, where the tenants reject the owner's messengers and even kill his son. This parable is a stark critique of the religious leaders who fail to recognize God's messengers, including Jesus himself. The story underscores the theme of rejection and the tragic consequences of refusing to accept God's will. Jesus' message is clear: the kingdom of God will be given to those who produce its fruits, a call to live out our faith with authenticity and love. Both readings invite us to reflect on our own experiences of rejection and jealousy. How often do we allow envy to cloud our judgment or fear to prevent us from embracing God's plan? These stories remind us that even in the face of rejection, God's purpose can still unfold. Joseph's journey ultimately leads to a position of influence, and Jesus' rejection paves the way for the salvation of humanity. As we navigate our own challenges, may we learn to trust in God's providence, even when faced with rejection or betrayal. Let us avoid the pitfalls of jealousy and instead choose love and compassion. In doing so, we align ourselves with God's will, allowing His kingdom to flourish in our hearts and in the world around us.