Daily Readings - Mon Jun 05 2017
First Reading - Tobit 1.1ad, 2a, 3, 17; 2.1-8
Gospel - Mark 12.1-12
Mark
1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:11This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on faith, perseverance, and the ultimate justice of God. In the first reading from Tobit, we encounter a man who, despite living in exile and hardship, remains steadfast in his commitment to God and His laws. Tobit’s actions—burying the dead, caring for his fellow exiles, and trusting in God’s providence—show us a life lived in faith and compassion, even in the face of suffering and criticism. His story reminds us that our faith is not just about belief but about how we live it out in concrete acts of love and mercy.
The Gospel parable from Mark offers a stark contrast to Tobit’s fidelity. The vineyard owner, who represents God, entrusts his land to tenants who repeatedly reject and harm those he sends, including his own son. This parable is a powerful allegory for Israel’s history and humanity’s tendency to reject God’s messengers. Yet, even in the face of such rejection, the parable assures us that God’s justice will prevail. The “stone rejected by the builders” becomes the cornerstone, a reference to Jesus, who is rejected by some but exalted by God. This reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His plan is always greater than our limited understanding.
Together, these readings call us to live with unwavering faith and trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems to reject or oppose what is good. Like Tobit, we are called to act with compassion and integrity, even in difficult circumstances. And like the parable, we are reminded that our ultimate hope lies not in human approval but in God’s justice and mercy. Let us strive to be faithful stewards of the vineyard entrusted to us, trusting that God will bring His plan to fulfillment in His time.