Daily Readings - Fri Mar 22 2019
Genesis
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 And when he answered17And the man said to him: "They have withdrawn from this place.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
Matthew
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 stories of jealousy, rejection, and the profound consequences of human actions. The first reading from Genesis tells the story of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, whose brothers, driven by envy, conspire against him. Their jealousy leads them to abandon Joseph in a cistern and later sell him into slavery. This narrative is part of the larger story of Joseph's eventual rise in Egypt and his forgiveness of his brothers, highlighting themes of betrayal, mercy, and divine providence.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a parable that mirrors the dynamics of rejection and betrayal. Jesus speaks of a vineyard owner who sends his servants and eventually his son to the tenant farmers, only to have them rejected and killed. This parable is a critique of the religious leaders of Jesus' time, who fail to recognize God's messengers and reject His Son. The parable ends with the warning that the kingdom of God will be taken from those who reject it and given to those who will bear its fruits.
Both readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God's presence in our lives. Joseph's brothers allowed jealousy to consume them, leading to division and harm. Similarly, the tenant farmers in the parable reject the vineyard owner's representatives out of greed and a desire for power. These stories remind us that our choices have consequences and that rejecting God's will can lead to spiritual blindness and separation from Him.
Yet, amidst these stories of rejection, there is hope. Joseph's story ultimately reveals God's ability to transform suffering into blessing. Similarly, the parable of the vineyard points to the enduring nature of God's kingdom, which will be given to those who are faithful. As we navigate our own lives, may we learn to recognize and overcome jealousy and pride, trusting in God's plan and seeking to bear fruit in His kingdom. Let us strive to be people who receive God's messengers with open hearts and live in a way that reflects His love and mercy.