The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the circumstances that lead to the rejection of the message of Jesus of love and compassion.
In the reading from the Book of Genesis, Joseph Is sold by his brothers.
* [37:21–36] The chapter thus far is from the Yahwist source, as are also vv. 25–28a. But vv. 21–24 and 28b–36 are from another source (sometimes designated the Elohist source). In the latter, Reuben tries to rescue Joseph, who is taken in Reuben’s absence by certain Midianites; in the Yahwist source, it is Judah who saves Joseph’s life by having him sold to certain Ishmaelites. Although the two variant forms in which the story was handed down in early oral tradition differ in these minor points, they agree on the essential fact that Joseph was brought as a slave into Egypt because of the jealousy of his brothers.
* [37:28] They sold Joseph…silver: editors tried to solve the confusion, created by different sources, by supposing that it was the Midianite traders who pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites. In all probability, one source had the brothers selling Joseph to Ishmaelites, whereas the other had them cast him into the pit whence he was taken by Midianite traders. (Genesis, CHAPTER 37, n.d.)
Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew presents the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.
* [21:33–46] Cf. Mk 12:1–12. In this parable there is a close correspondence between most of the details of the story and the situation that it illustrates, the dealings of God with his people. Because of that heavy allegorizing, some scholars think that it does not in any way go back to Jesus, but represents the theology of the later church. That judgment applies to the Marcan parallel as well, although the allegorizing has gone farther in Matthew. There are others who believe that while many of the allegorical elements are due to church sources, they have been added to a basic parable spoken by Jesus. This view is now supported by the Gospel of Thomas 65, where a less allegorized and probably more primitive form of the parable is found. (Matthew, CHAPTER 21, n.d.)
Scott McClure comments on how a landowner and his vineyard is used as the backdrop for God’s relationship with his people. What love! What loving patience it must take the Father to endure in his relationship with us, even now. Ages of offenses have as of yet not resulted in the Father’s abandonment of us. Is this not remarkable? Further, is this not a remarkable example the Father has set for us?
When we feel disregarded by others, the Father understands.
When we feel mistreated, as Joseph was by his brothers, the Father understands.
When our greatest sacrifices for others are unappreciated and discarded, the Father understands.
In his most trying time, during his passion, Jesus turned to his Father. This Lent, let us do the same. Let us turn to the Father for the strength to forgive and endure as he has done for us since he created us. (McClure, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Life through death,” by Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Unless the Word of God had first assumed our mortal flesh He could not have died for us. Only in that way was the immortal God able to die and to give life to mortal humans. Therefore, by this double sharing He brought about a wonderful exchange. We made death possible for Him, and He made life possible for us." (excerpt from Sermon 218C, 1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 comments that many of Israel’s leaders rejected God’s “cornerstone” in Jesus (Matthew 21:42). But God made even that rejection “wonderful” (21:42) because it led to his cross and resurrection—nothing short of our redemption! Even today, the risen Jesus reaches out to every person, and he will never stop! And as his disciples, we now have the joy of laboring in his vineyard. We can reach out to share his love with the same tenacity that God has always shown; we can help bring his children, the fruit of his vineyard, back to him.
God doesn’t want our efforts in evangelization to begin with fear, duty, or obligation. He wants them to flow from our experience of Jesus and his love for us. When we are filled with his love, we simply can’t contain it. We long for people to know that love, and we ourselves become tenacious—in a humble and winning way—in sharing it with them.
So where is God sending you today? What part of his “vineyard” is open for you to go and help bring in a rich harvest of people longing to know him?
“Father, thank you for your tenacious, unyielding love. Help me to share it with the people around me today.” (Meditation on Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the favoritism of Jacob towards Joseph that leads to drastic response to jealousy by his brothers. The difference in the location of the murder of the son in the parable in Mark and Matthew points to Jesus' knowledge of His eventual Passion and death.
Friar Jude reminds us of the pattern of rejection of prophets in salvation history.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, often teaches that God can be sought and known outside of traditional church services and forms of prayer. Pilgrimages, big and small, can allow us to experience God’s presence on the “cellular” or energetic level that Father Richard describes. Pastor and author Brett Webb-Mitchell suggests how we might make pilgrimages a regular part of our lives.
A pilgrimage is more than just a hike, a walk, a run, a bike ride, a vacation, or a journey…. Pilgrimage is the state of mind and heart or spirit that changes the vacation, the hike in the woods, the long kayak journey along an intercoastal strip of water, the ride out into the country, the walk to a friend’s house, the errand in the middle of the day, the walking of a dog, the 5k run or marathon … into a pilgrimage in which one encounters the Holy. Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast describes this very sentiment:when the pilgrim sets her foot on the ground, every step is a goal, and the pilgrim says “now, now, now”; she is living in the present and claiming the presence of the Holy God now in her midst [2], upon this soil, fully cognizant of the sacred land she walks upon…. Whether we are on an actual pilgrimage or perceive that the road of life we are on is our pilgrimage, each step, each move one makes is blessed by the Spirit. For both an actual pilgrimage and the pilgrimage of everyday life is a journey of faith. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We are inspired by the Spirit to be the workers in the vineyard of the Lord where we celebrate life sometimes in the face of rejection.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 37. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/37?3
Matthew, CHAPTER 21. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21?33
McClure, S. (2023, March 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/031023.html
Meditation on Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/10/628594/
Psalms, PSALM 105. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?16
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Everyday Pilgrims. The Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/everyday-pilgrims-2023-03-10/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Stone Which the Builders Rejected. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar10
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