Daily Readings - Fri Mar 21 2025
Genesis
3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.12And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.13And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.21And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Matthew
33Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter stories of betrayal, rejection, and the profound consequences of human actions. The first reading from Genesis recounts the tale of Joseph and his brothers, driven by jealousy and resentment. Joseph, favored by his father, becomes the target of his brothers' hatred, leading them to plot against him, throw him into a cistern, and ultimately sell him into slavery. This narrative highlights the destructive power of envy and the tragic outcomes of allowing such emotions to guide our decisions.
The Gospel reading from Matthew presents a parable that mirrors the themes of rejection and betrayal. Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner whose son is brutally murdered by the tenant farmers who seek to seize his inheritance. This parable serves as a critique of the religious leaders of Jesus' time, who fail to recognize God's messengers and reject His Son. Both readings remind us that our choices have consequences and that rejecting God's will can lead to spiritual blindness and separation from Him.
These stories challenge us to reflect on our own lives. How often do we allow jealousy, pride, or fear to dictate our actions? How do we respond to God's presence in our lives? The readings invite us to embrace humility, to recognize God's presence in those around us, and to open our hearts to His will. Let us pray for the grace to see beyond our own limited perspectives and to receive God's love with openness and gratitude.