The Parable Of The Tenants

"Listen to another example:  There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and then, went to a distant country.  When harvest time came, the landowner sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the harvest.  But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Again, the owner sent more servants; but they were treated in the same way.

Finally, he sent his son, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they thought, 'This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard.  Let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.'  So, they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do with the tenants when he comes?  They said to him, 'He will bring those evil men to an evil end, and lease the vineyard to others, who will pay him in due time.'

And JESUS replied, 'Have you never read what the Scriptures say?  The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This was the LORD's doing, and we marvel at it.  Therefore, I say to you: the kingdom of heaven will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'" - Matthew 21:33-43   

(In this comparison, the vine represents the kingdom of GOD.  The Jews were GOD's people, and they came to consider that their own interests were those of GOD.  HE had to help them against others.  They had confidence that they would be saved and were not concerned about the fate of others who did not recognize GOD.

GOD entrusted HIS kingdom to them; in other words, HE guided them throughout the long span of their history, so that they would be an example to others.  They were to communicate their experience to others so that all would develop justice, a spirit of responsibility, a sense of community; these were the fruit GOD wanted to harvest.

GOD sent prophets to remind them of their debt: they were scarcely heard.  Finally, the only Son of GOD become human appears and the same thing will happen.  HE will be thrown out of the vineyard, in other words, rejected by HIS own people.  Which is why the kingdom of GOD will be given to others, to those believers converted from other nations and gathered in the Church of CHRIST.

Here ends the parable.  It could equally be applied to the Church today if it becomes a religion of one social class, or similar to the other religions, or if we do not find in the Church more obedience to GOD, more commitment to values that will save the world.  What would happen to Christian groups and their leaders if they began to feel they were the owners of the kingdom and its promises?) 

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JESUS Gives Thanks To The FATHER

"The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy.  They said, 'LORD, even the demons obeyed us when we called on YOUR name.'  Then JESUS replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you.  Nevertheless, don't rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice, rather, that your names are written in heaven.'

At that time, JESUS was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and said, 'I praise YOU, FATHER, LORD of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and made them known to little ones.  Yes, FATHER, such has been YOUR gracious will.  I have been given all things by MY FATHER, so that no one knows the Son except the FATHER, and no one knows the FATHER except the Son, and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal HIM.'

Then JESUS turned to HIS disciples and said to them privately, 'Fortunate are you to see what you see, for I tell you, that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see, but did not see it; and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.'" - Luke 10:17-24  

(At first, the person who preaches CHRIST and works for HIM is scared.  Then follows the joy of having surpassed oneself, and even more the joy of having believed and worked with the very power of JESUS.  JESUS gives thanks for the seventy [or seventy-two] and for all those who will follow HIM.

What are these things that GOD has revealed to the little ones but the mysterious power of the Gospel to transform people and show them the truth?  The apostles marvel at the power coming from the name of JESUS [Mark 16:17].  JESUS underlines the defeat of the Adversary, Satan.

The learned and the clever think they know, but do not know what is essential.  They speak of a GOD who is no more than a shadow of the true GOD as long as they do not recognize him in JESUS.  They do not know where the world is heading because they do not see how GOD's power is working wherever JESUS is being proclaimed.

The little ones, on the other hand, have understood.  Before they saw themselves as a sacrificed generation.  For the little ones are used to sacrificing themselves for their children from generation to generation, or they are sacrificed by powers, under the pretext of bringing happiness to their descendants.  They did not live for themselves; rather they were preparing a place for others.  Now the little ones, namely, the humble believers, have everything if they have JESUS, the FATHER has given everything to HIM.

Little ones live their faith in simple ways, but they know that none of their sacrifices are lost.  It is JESUS who reveals the FATHER to us and, knowing HIM in truth, we also share in HIS control over events.  Our desires and our prayers are powerful because we have come to the center from which GOD directs the forces saving humankind: because we work for eternity, our names are already written in heaven.

To evangelize does not mean to try to sell the Gospel but rather to prove its power to heal people from their demons.  We need not become activists in order to accomplish that.  We must admit that we have no power in these things and we must give thanks to GOD who enabled us to see, to hear and to communicate HIS salvation.

Fortunate are you to see...  Stop being envious of famous people, kings and prophets of the past.  You who are alive now, and who are neither kings nor prophets, have been given the better part.)

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The Little Ones

"At that time, the disciples came to JESUS and asked HIM, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'

Then JESUS called a little child, set the child in the midst of the disciples, and said, 'I assure you, that, unless you change, and become like little children, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever becomes humble, like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whoever receives such a child, in MY name, receives ME.'

See that you do not despise any of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven continually see the face of MY heavenly FATHER." - Matthew 18:1-5. 10 

(JESUS does not answer the apostles' question: Who is the greatest?  Because what matters is not to become great, but to be close to CHRIST.  In order to receive CHRIST, we must welcome HIM in the person of the little ones.)

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Triumphant Trust In GOD

"Hear my voice when I call, O YAHWEH, 

have mercy on me and answer.

My heart says to you,

'I seek YOUR face, O YAHWEH.'

Do not hide YOUR face from me

nor turn away YOUR servant in anger.

YOU are my protector, do not reject me;

abandon me not, O GOD my savior!

I hope, I am sure,

that I will see the goodness of YAHWEH

in the land of the living.

Trust in YAHWEH, be strong and courageous

yes, put your hope in YAHWEH!"

- Psalm 27:7-8. 8-9. 13-14

(In the struggles of this life, the believer is not discouraged, but clings to the hope the LORD have in store for us at the end of the conflict.  A trust without limits: Though my father and mother forsake me, yet will the LORD receive me.  To such a GOD, the psalmist can say: One thing I seek... (to) dwell in the house of the LORD.  All the struggles, trials and temptations will not let us forget the house of the LORD at the end of the road.) 

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The Cost Of Following JESUS

"As they went on their way, a man said to HIM, 'I will follow you wherever you go.'  JESUS said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay HIS head.'

To another JESUS said, 'Follow me.'  But he answered, 'Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.'  And JESUS said to him, 'Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of GOD.'

Another said to HIM, 'I will follow you, LORD, but first let me say goodbye to my family.'  And JESUS said to him, 'Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of GOD.'" - Luke 9:57-62 

(In contrast with JESUS customary understanding attitude about human nature, here we see JESUS very demanding with the disciple who wants to follow HIM:  JESUS cannot waste HIS time in forming those who are not ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel.

 

The third of these would-be disciples, perhaps, was secretly hoping that at the time of saying good-bye, his family would beg him not to do such a foolish thing, and so he could remain with his good intentions:  I would like to, but...

 

The second case is different:  Let the dead bury their dead.  Faced with these abrupt words that we occasionally meet in the Gospel, there are two attitudes to be avoided.  The first would be to take these words as a general rule, a precept addressed to everyone without nuance, the second, more frequent, would be to say:  "That must not be taken literally, it's an oriental way of speaking.  'For JESUS there is no entry into the Kingdom without an experience of liberty'."

 

First, I want to bury my father.  This means perhaps that he should bury his father who has died.  Most probably it means that he wanted to look after his aging father up to the time of his burial. It is difficult to think one is truly free if he had not had the opportunity to prove it by acting differently from what is understood and accepted around him.  Think of Francis of Assisi begging for bread in his own town after having lived there as the son of a rich family.

Leave them and proclaim the kingdom of GOD.  When a call from JESUS reaches you, it is the complete will of GOD for you in this precise moment.  Leave there your excuses, your duties:  perhaps these would-be duties only in a world of the dead.  GOD has provided that others, perhaps HIS angels, will see to them.)

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Thanksgiving To A Faithful GOD

"I thank YOU, O YAHWEH, with all my heart,

for YOU have heard the word of my lips.

I sing YOUR praise in the presence of the gods.

I bow down YOUR holy temple 

and give thanks to YOUR name,

for YOUR love and faithfulness,

for YOUR word, which exceeds everything.

YOU answered me when I called;

YOU restored my soul and made me strong.

O YAHWEH, all kings on earth will give you praise,

when they have heard YOUR words.

They will celebrate the ways of YAHWEH,

'great is the glory of YAHWEH!'"

Psalm 138:1-2. 2-3. 4-5

(The great GOD, LORD of the world and of angels, cares for us, constantly surpassing what we could expect from HIM.

The one who prays does not know how his own future will be.  He is certain, however, that if the dangers are great, the hand of GOD is saving and HIS love is eternal.  GOD cannot forsake the work of HIS hands.  Thanksgiving has a future.

The psalmist thanks GOD repeatedly for answering his prayers.  Indeed, our prayers will be answered because JESUS told us so.  JESUS even taught us how to pray [Matthew 6:9] and told us to ask and we will receive [Matthew 7:7] and whatever we ask in prayer full of faith, you will receive [Matthew 21:22].)

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Who Is The Greatest?

"One day, the disciples were arguing which of them was the most important.  But JESUS knew their thoughts, so HE took a little child and stood him by HIS side.  The HE said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this little child in MY name, welcomes ME; and whoever welcomes ME, welcomes the one who sent ME.  And listen: the one who is found to be the least among you all, is the one who is the greatest.'

Then John spoke up, 'Master we saw someone who drives out demons by calling upon YOUR name, and we tried to forbid him, because he doesn't follow YOU with us.'  But JESUS said, 'Don't forbid him.  He who is not against you is for you.'" - Luke 9:46-50  

 

(Mark remarks that JESUS took a child in HIS arms: something unusual for people of that time since children did not count, and religious teachers only urged that they be well discipline.  The model of religion seemed to b e a serious man who did not laugh, did not run, did not look at people in lower positions, especially women and children.  Oftentimes, such a mentality is seen in those who criticize child baptism and first communion.

JESUS does not answer the apostles question: "Who is the greatest?  Because what matters is not to become great, but to be close to CHRIST.  In order to receive CHRIST, we must welcome HIM in the person of the little ones.)

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The Parable Of The Two Sons

"JESUS went on to say, 'What do you think of this?  A man had two sons.  He went to the first and said to him: 'Son, today go and work in my vineyard.  And the son answered:  'I don't want to.'  But later he thought better of it and went.  Then the father went to the second and gave him the same command.  This son replied: 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go.

Which of the two did what the father wanted?  They answered, 'The first.'  And JESUS said to them, "Truly, I say to you:  the publicans and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven.  For John came to show you the way of goodness but you did not believe him, yet the publicans and the prostitutes did.  You were witnesses of this, but you neither repented nor believed him." - Matthew 21:28-32  

(This parable refers to the refusal of the chief priests to recognize John the Baptist as a messenger of GOD.

A good number of sinners were converted by John's preaching and confessed their sins.  Such people were well disposed to receive the message of JESUS that opened for them the kingdom of GOD and showed them the true face of GOD the FATHER.  Because of that, they were ahead of the priests, who were indifferent to John's call, for they felt neither the desire nor the need to change.

Every parish that carries out a mission experiences the same thing:  many uncommitted Christians will neither work as missionaries, nor receive them, believing they do not need conversion.)

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Pondering The Brevity Of Life

 "YOU turn humans back to dust, saying, 'Return, O mortals!'

A thousand years in YOUR sight are like a day that has passed, or like a watch in the night.

YOU sow them in their time; at dawn they peep out.  In the morning they blossom, but the flower fades and withers in the evening.

So, make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart.

How long will YOU be angry, O YAHWEH?  Have mercy on YOUR servant.

Fill us at daybreak with YOUR goodness, that we may be glad all our days.

May the sweetness of YAHWEH be upon us; may HE prosper the work of our hands."

- Psalm 90:3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 14. 17

(What is the meaning of our life?  What are our values?  We cannot elaborate a 'tomorrow' for ourselves, without counting on GOD.  This psalm can help us.

Our days pass like a sigh.  Our earthly life is short and frail before the face of the eternal GOD.  HE is our refuge and can give meaning to our existence.  Let us ask HIM to fill it with wisdom, which is to love HIM, praise HIM and serve HIM.)

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Peter's Profession Of Faith

"JESUS set out with HIS disciples for the villages around Caesarea Philippi; and on the way HE asked them, 'Who do people say I AM?  And they told HIM, 'Some say, YOU are John the Baptist; others say, YOU are Elijah or one of the prophets.'

Then JESUS asked them, 'But you, who do you say I AM?'  Peter answered, 'YOU are the Messiah.'  And HE ordered them not to tell anyone about HIM.

JESUS then began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  HE would be killed, and after three days rise again.  JESUS said all this quite openly, so that Peter took HIM aside and began to protest strongly.  But JESUS, turning around, and looking at HIS disciples, rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get behind ME, Satan!  You are thinking not as GOD does, but as people do.'" - Mark 8:27-33  

(Here the Gospel already foretells the tragic end.  For the first time, the apostles take account of who their Master is.

YOU are the Messiah.  CHRIST is a Greek word that means the Messiah in Hebrew.  They both mean: the anointed or consecrated one.  This term designated the long-awaited Savior.  The apostles discover that JESUS is the Messiah, the Liberator, but HE teaches them that the Son of Man (the Human One) has to suffer many things.

Why does JESUS call HIMSELF the Son of Man?  For two reasons: first, because one page in Scripture speaks of the Son of Man who gloriously comes from GOD to judge all people and to rule all the nations [Daniel 7:13].  Second, because JESUS is the perfect Human and bears the destiny of humanity.

JESUS had to suffer, because this is the fate of sinners.  HE had to suffer and be rejected by the authorities, because this is the destiny of those who proclaim the truth.  HE had to freely go to HIS death because self-sacrifice is the only means for the salvation of the world.)

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