Daily Readings - Fri Mar 01 2024
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 And when he answered17And the man said to him: "They have withdrawn from this place.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
The readings today present us with two powerful stories of betrayal, rejection, and the unfolding of God’s plan. In the first reading from Genesis, we see the story of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, who is hated by his brothers because of the special affection and gifts he receives from his father. Driven by jealousy, Joseph’s brothers conspire against him, ultimately deciding to sell him into slavery rather than kill him. This act of betrayal sets the stage for Joseph’s journey into Egypt, where God will eventually exalt him to a position of great power and responsibility. The story reminds us that even in the face of human sin and failure, God’s providence is at work, turning evil into good.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who entrusts his property to tenant farmers. When the owner sends his servants and finally his son to collect the fruits of the vineyard, the tenants reject and kill them, hoping to seize the inheritance for themselves. Jesus uses this parable to critique the religious leaders of his time, who have failed to recognize and respond to God’s presence in their midst. The parable warns us that rejection of God’s messengers and refusal to bear fruit in our lives can lead to spiritual consequences. Yet, even in judgment, there is hope: the vineyard will be given to others who are willing to produce its fruits.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and others. Joseph’s story challenges us to examine how we respond to jealousy and betrayal, while the parable calls us to consider how we steward the gifts and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s providence, even when faced with rejection or hardship, and to bear fruit through lives of love, faith, and service. Let us ask ourselves: Are we like Joseph, trusting in God’s plan even in difficult circumstances? Or are we like the tenant farmers, resisting God’s call and failing to produce the fruits of holiness? May we turn to God with repentant hearts, seeking to align our lives with his will.