The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to persevere with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Divine Protection to be faithful tenants in the vineyard of Christ.
The reading from the Second Letter of Peter declares the Christian’s Call and Election.
* [1:3–4] Christian life in its fullness is a gift of divine power effecting a knowledge of Christ and the bestowal of divine promises (2 Pt 3:4, 9). To share in the divine nature, escaping from a corrupt world, is a thought found elsewhere in the Bible but expressed only here in such Hellenistic terms, since it is said to be accomplished through knowledge (2 Pt 1:3); cf. 2 Pt 1:2; 2:20; but see also Jn 15:4; 17:22–23; Rom 8:14–17; Heb 3:14; 1 Jn 1:3; 3:2.
* [1:3] By his own glory and power: the most ancient papyrus and the best codex read “through glory and power.”
* [1:5–9] Note the climactic gradation of qualities (2 Pt 1:5–7), beginning with faith and leading to the fullness of Christian life, which is love; cf. Rom 5:3–4; Gal 5:6, 22 for a similar series of “virtues,” though the program and sense here are different than in Paul. The fruit of these is knowledge of Christ (2 Pt 1:8) referred to in 2 Pt 1:3; their absence is spiritual blindness (2 Pt 1:9). (2 Peter Chapter 1 USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 91 is assurance of God’s Protection.
* [Psalm 91] A prayer of someone who has taken refuge in the Lord, possibly within the Temple (Ps 91:1–2). The psalmist is confident that God’s presence will protect the people in every dangerous situation (Ps 91:3–13). The final verses are an oracle of salvation promising salvation to those who trust in God (Ps 91:14–16).
* [91:1] The shelter of the Most High: basically “hiding place” but in the Psalms a designation for the protected Temple precincts, cf. Ps 27:5; 31:21; 61:5. The shade of the Almighty: lit., “the shadow of the wings of the Almighty,” cf. Ps 17:8; 36:8; 57:2; 63:8. Ps 91:4 makes clear that the shadow is an image of the safety afforded by the outstretched wings of the cherubim in the holy of holies. (Psalm 91 USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark, proclaims the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.
* [12:1–12] The vineyard denotes Israel (Is 5:1–7). The tenant farmers are the religious leaders of Israel. God is the owner of the vineyard. His servants are his messengers, the prophets. The beloved son is Jesus (Mk 1:11; 9:7; Mt 3:17; 17:5; Lk 3:22; 9:35). The punishment of the tenants refers to the religious leaders, and the transfer of the vineyard to others refers to the people of the new Israel. (Mark Chapter 12 USCCB, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly comments that despite our knowledge of God and our self-control, we are constantly challenged by trials and sufferings. That is why we need endurance, which is the fruit of hope. We cannot stay strong and hopeful in our faith without it.
Accepting how God’s divine power is active in my life is how I worked through what should be my response to love the world. But I think each of us must personalize that acceptance of God’s divine power in our lives in our own ways. My prayer today is that we are all growing in that power by supplementing our faith with virtue, endurance and love. (Dilly, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Christ's wounds bring healing and life,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"The vineyard prefigures us, because the people of God, founded on the root of the eternal Vine, appear above the earth, bordering the lowly ground. They now grow ripe with budding flowers. They now are clothed with dense greenery and take on a gentle yoke [see Matthew 11:30] when they worship with mature branches as if with the twigs of the vine. The Father Almighty truly is the Vinedresser, and Christ is the Vine. We, not vine sprouts, are pruned by the sickle of the eternal cultivator if we do not bear fruit in Christ. [see John 15:1-2] The people of Christ then is correctly named a vineyard, either because the sign of the cross is woven on its forehead [see Ezekiel 9:4,6] or its fruit is gathered in the last season of the year. It may also be called a vineyard because there is equal measurement in the church of God for rich and poor, humble and powerful, servants and masters. There is no difference in the church, as in all the rows of the vineyard.[see Colossians 3:25] As the vine clings to trees, so the body is joined to the soul and the soul to the body. When the vine clings, it is raised up. When it is pruned, it is not diminished, but it increases. The people of God is stripped when it is bound, uplifted when it is humbled, crowned when it is cut back. The tender shoot cut from an old tree is grafted onto the progeny of another root. When the scars of the old shoot are cut away, the people of God likewise grow into the wood of the cross. It is as if they are cherished in the arms of a pious parent. The Holy Spirit comes as if cast down into the deep ditches of the earth and poured into this prison of the body. With the flow of saving water, the Holy Spirit washes away whatever is filthy and raises the posture of our members to heavenly discipline. (excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 9.30.21) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Peter 1:2-7 comments that in today’s first reading, Peter writes that we “share in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). That means that God’s dreams can become our dreams, too. And what is God’s dream? That his kingdom of love, peace, and freedom would be established in our hearts and all over the earth. We may not see that kingdom fully until we get to heaven, but we can see it unfolding right here and now. What’s more, we can help make this dream a reality as we develop the gifts God has given us and put them to use.
While you may not see an end to hunger or world peace in your lifetime, remember that these are God’s dreams as well, and he’s working to bring them about—through you and so many people like you! So like José, use your gifts and persevere. If enough believers follow that model, then who knows how much good we could do? The sky’s the limit!
“Lord, thank you for your divine nature present in me. Show me how I can help to make your dreams become a reality.” (Meditation on 2 Peter 1:2-7, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the passage from 2 Peter, likely written at the beginning of the 2nd Century, calls for endurance in a life of virtue that gives witness to the Gospel. The Parable of the Wicked Tenants contains details indicating it was written before Jesus' crucifixion and is His foretelling of His death. Friar Jude reminds of the connection to the intent of the spiritual leaders to kill the Only Son.
James Finley introduces Eastern Orthodox theologian Kallistos Ware (1934–2022) who considers how we can become people of prayer.
“The continuous interior prayer of Jesus is a constant uninterrupted calling upon the divine name of Jesus with the lips, in the spirit, in the heart, while forming a mental picture of His constant presence, and imploring His grace, during every occupation, at all times, in all places, even during sleep. The appeal is couched in these terms, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.’ One who accustoms himself to this appeal experiences as a result so deep a consolation and so great a need to offer the prayer always, that he can no longer live without it, and it will continue to voice itself within him of its own accord. Now do you understand what prayer without ceasing is?” [2] ([2] The Way of a Pilgrim; and, The Pilgrim Continues His Way, trans. R. M. French) (Finley, n.d.)
We are inheritors of the Greek pursuit of knowledge and our endurance and love will bear fruit in revelation of God on our journey and His protection in our times of distress.
References
Dilly, B. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060324.html
Finley, J. (n.d.). The Way of a Pilgrim. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-way-of-a-pilgrim/
Mark Chapter 12 USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12?1
Meditation on 2 Peter 1:2-7. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/03/988697/
Psalm 91 USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/91?1
Schwager, D. (n.d.). They Will Respect My Beloved Son. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun3
2 Peter Chapter 1 USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2peter/1?2
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