Daily Readings - Mon Jun 05 2023

¹Tobit was from the tribe and city of Naphtali (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Asher, after the way, which leads to the west, that has on its left the city of Sephet)²Although he had been taken captive in the days of Shalmaneser, the king of the Assyrians, even in such a situation as captivity, he did not desert the way of truth³So then, every day, all that he was able to obtain, he bestowed on his fellow captive brothers, who were from his kindred¹⁷And when, in the midst of the great tumult of his kindred, he saw the destitution of Gabael, who was from his tribe, he loaned him, under a written agreement, the aforementioned weight of silver

Chapter 2

¹In truth, after this, when there was a feast day of the Lord, and a good dinner had been prepared in the house of Tobit²he said to his son: "Go, and bring some others who fear God from our tribe to feast with us.³And after he had gone, returning, he reported to him that one of the sons of Israel, with his throat cut, was lying in the street. And immediately, he leapt from his place reclining at table, left behind his dinner, and went forth with fasting to the body⁴And taking it up, he carried it in secret to his house, so that, after the sun had set, he might bury him cautiously⁵And after he had hidden the body, he chewed his bread with mourning and fear⁶remembering the word that the Lord spoke through the prophet Amos: "Your feast days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning.⁷Truly, when the sun had set, he went out, and he buried him⁸Yet all his neighbors argued with him, saying: "Now, an order was given to execute you because of this matter, and you barely escaped a death sentence, and again you are burying the dead?

Mark

Chapter 12

¹And he began to speak to them in parables: "A man dug a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and dug a pit, and built a tower, and he loaned it out to farmers, and he set out on a long journey²And in time, he sent a servant to the farmers, in order to receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the farmers³But they, having apprehended him, beat him and sent him away empty⁴And again, he sent another servant to them. And they wounded him on the head, and they treated him with contempt⁵And again, he sent another, and him they killed, and many others: some they beat, but others they killed⁶Therefore, having still one son, most dear to him, he sent him also to them, at the very end, saying, ‘For they will reverence my son.⁷But the settlers said one to another: ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him. And then the inheritance will be ours.⁸And apprehending him, they killed him. And they cast him out of the vineyard⁹Therefore, what will the lord of the vineyard do?" "He will come and destroy the settlers. And he will give the vineyard to others.¹⁰"And so, have you not read this scripture?: ‘The stone which the builders have rejected, the same has been made the head of the corner¹¹By the Lord has this been done, and it is wondrous in our eyes.’ ¹²And they sought to take hold of him, but they feared the crowd. For they knew that he had spoken this parable about them. And leaving him behind, they went away

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on faithfulness, stewardship, and the ultimate judgment of God. In the first reading from Tobit, we encounter a man who, despite being exiled and facing immense hardship, remains steadfast in his faith and his commitment to helping others. Tobit’s actions—burying the dead, feeding the hungry, and upholding the law—are not just acts of kindness but expressions of his deep trust in God’s providence. Even when his neighbors question his actions and warn him of the dangers, Tobit does not waver. His story reminds us that faithfulness to God and His commandments is not always easy, but it is always worth it. In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who entrusts his land to tenants. Despite the owner’s generosity and trust, the tenants reject and mistreat his servants, even killing his beloved son. This parable is a stark reminder of how humanity has often rejected God’s messengers throughout history. The vineyard represents Israel, and the son represents Jesus Himself. The tenants’ refusal to acknowledge the owner’s authority reflects the spiritual blindness of those who reject God’s plan. Yet, the parable also offers hope: the vineyard will be given to others who will produce its fruit. This is a call to us to be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given us. Both readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we like Tobit, remaining faithful even in difficult circumstances, or are we like the tenants, rejecting God’s grace and ignoring His call? The moral lesson is clear: faithfulness to God and His commandments leads to life, while rejection and disobedience lead to spiritual death. Let us strive to be good stewards of the vineyard God has entrusted to us, producing fruits of love, compassion, and fidelity. In doing so, we will not only honor God but also find true fulfillment in our lives.