Becoming the cornerstone

The texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary bring us to consider how jealousy and envy can be fanned into severe action against others. The story of the treatment of Joseph, favoured son of Jacob and Rachael, by his brothers who were not living up to their responsibility to their brother, but were driven by their assessment of events to desire his death. Friar JudeWinkler refers to the Jewish concept of goel as the kinsperson who takes care of your welfare. We might think of the one who “has your back”. Matthew writes of Jesus telling a parable of the tenants who reject their responsibility to care for the vineyard and kill those sent by the landowner, even his son, when attempts are made to restore the vineyard to production. Friar Jude notes the Pharisees understood that Jesus was referring to the care of the people of Israel and the lack of life giving relationship with God under the control of the religious authorities. We find difficulty with those who point out our inadequacy. This is a dilemma. Changes we desire in others may be for “their own good”. As we find ourselves in the role of Joseph or the son of the landlord, we may pause to wonder if our approach to the other may have been a source of their extreme reaction to us. Perhaps the messenger has no responsibility for the reaction of those who reject him. Jesus reminds us that the injustice which causes rejection will be transformed as the one rejected is raised as the cornerstone.