Will against will

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary bring the reality of the different life experienced and presented by those who attempt to follow the Will of God. Joseph is the son of Israel's old age and his union with his beloved Rachael. His is chosen as the favourite and he experiences special attention from his father. Friar Jude Winkler indicates that the eldest son was expected in the culture of the time to be the "chosen". Today parents seem to try hard not to identify and mark a favourite. The obedience of Joseph to the will of his father becomes the event which peaks the jealousy and anger of his brothers to the extend that he is sold into slavery in Egypt and exiled from family and country. The decision to follow the direction toward greater intimacy with the Divine will draw us into situations where the fruit and attitude of our choice is in conflict with the ideas and life style of others. The parable of the wicked tenants indicates the delusion of direction which comes upon us when our needs for control, prestige, power and privilege dominate our decisions. The action of the tenants to kill the heir seems completely irrational. The strength of truth in this parable to the chief priests and Pharisees becomes a prophesy, (especially in the version in Mark 12:1-6, according to Friar Jude) of the rejection of Jesus by the religious authorities and His death at their hands.