Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46
“Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the
fruits of it.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.
Reflection
There are few points that we can ponder upon from this gospel. God entrusts us with what he values. It’s one thing to purchase an already functional property. It’s quite another thing to purchase a rundown property and fix it up yourself. Once tidied up, the latter is worth much more to you. It has become the fruit of your sweat and blood. It is not simply a possession; it is a part of you. In today’s Gospel, the landowner purchased the land and did the work himself to set up the vineyard before he handed it over to the tenants. When he entrusted it to them, he was not simply looking for a profit, but for someone to manage his vineyard. He valued it greatly enough to risk the life of his son. Christ has established his vineyard the Church and put it into our hands. Christ pays us the compliment of entrusting us with his work, with what he values. He not only gives us a job to do, but mysteriously puts the eternal salvation of other souls in our hands. Secondly, Christ is patient with our failures. The landowner did not stay around to supervise the tenants tightly. He did not even lay down rules or specify methods of cultivation. The master left the tenants to do their job as they saw fit. God is not a tyrannical taskmaster. He knows that labouring in his vineyard is hard work. At harvest time the master sent messenger after messenger. He did not condemn the tenants after one messenger had been abused and another mistreated. Rather, he sends them his son, he does everything possible to bear with their egotism and inspire them with his understanding and generosity. Thirdly, God is equally repulsed by our inactivity as with our iniquity. Because you are neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15). The graver sin for the Pharisees was not what they decided, but rather their selfish and blind sterility in choosing not to decide. When Christ rebuked the sentence against the Pharisees, he does not say, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that respects life rather, he chides them for not producing fruit. Note that the sentence is essentially equally severe. The one offense takes life, the other refuses to give it.
Lasallian Guiding Principle
LGP states that, “Lasallian education is marked by zeal: the whole hearted giving of oneself to the service of others, in gratuity and generosity, in creativity and fortitude, in compassion and commitment. We live in a throwaway culture. Much of what could be used again is dumped to destroy the earth and the sea. We waste a lot of the daily bread of the people. Jesus asks us always to look again, to see the value of what we may throw aside, especially in our treatment of each other. Everyone has a value in the eyes of God. Pope Francis noted and I quote ‘When adolescents feel unloved, they may turn to violence, hatred or delinquent behavior. There is no such thing as bad children or evil adolescents, he said, but there are unhappy people.’ (June 2107). He is asserting that with love and a community of acceptance, everyone has a place and has something to offer, like every stone is valuable to a new building, especially some we may first throw away. As lasallians, we are called not to waste but to share.
Prayer for the Tercentenary of the Founder’s passing to Eternal Life (adapted)
God, our Father and Mother, You love us with endless mercy. You call us to be your sons and daughters.
Give us a generous heart. A heart of flesh that “burns within us.” A heart always willing to love. A compassionate heart for those who suffer. A heart where there is a place for all Lasallians around the world. Lord Jesus, You call us to follow you. Give us the courage to live our commitment. Teach us to go beyond our borders. Teach us to discover you in the lowliest. Teach us to look with the eyes of faith. Teach us to share our mission with all Lasallians of the whole world. Holy Spirit, You call us to live with joy. Fill us with your grace to live the values of the Gospel. Fill us with your grace to be active members in your Church. Fill us with your grace so that we may be credible witnesses, together with the entire Lasallian Family, in the midst of our world. Together and by association, we wish to renew our Lasallian commitment, and, in an attitude of thanksgiving, celebrate these 300 years of life. We ask this through
Mary’s intercession, Queen and Mother of the Christian Schools. And through the intercession of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Universal Patron of Christian Educators. Amen.
Let us pray with one Lasallian Heart whose Commitment is to nurture Life. Now, in a very special way, we pray for the complete healing of our Brother Superior General, Br. Bob Schieler FSC.
We entrust Him to Your power. Touch him oh Divine Physician with Your healing hands. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Then say 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be.
Our Lady of the Star, pray for us.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Value: Zeal for Service (Nurturing Service)
Culture Theme: We commit ourselves to serve the underprivileged
Productivity Theme: Outreach
ICV WEEK 3: We are dedicated to our work.
Sources:
Catholic Online. (n.d.). Daily Reading for Thursday, March 22 nd , 2019 – Bible. Retrieved from
https://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_reading/?select_date=2019-03-22
Christian Brothers University. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cbu.edu/five-
principles?fbclid=IwAR1UnU5JRLHzVJ4HSt9ircDfO9gVkVTepP6OldNssbjCqga2QmqkH9PUwUY
Prepared by Michael Junior. Maena:: College of Humanities and Sciences- BS Biochemistry 2-1
The post Matthew 21:33-46 appeared first on De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute.
