Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 1, 2024

Date:   Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again, he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.

Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

by the Lord has this been done,

and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit." When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from the Gospel of Matthew recounts Jesus’ use of the parable of the Tenants and the Vineyard. Jesus used this parable to teach of the rejection of the LORD’s law, prophets, and even His own Son by those in authority and of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The parable, as a whole, to clarify, using examples, salvation history. The LORD created “the vineyard,” our world. We were named as tenants or stewards. The LORD established a covenant or an agreement with us based on love of the LORD with all our being and love for one another. However, we did not honor that covenant, we strayed, we intentionally defied it, we sinned. And so, the LORD sent prophets who called us back to right relationship with our all-loving LORD and to justice for one another. But we ignored the prophets’ words and mistreated or slayed them. So, the LORD sent His beloved Son to call us back into rightful relationship with our LORD. But we rejected Him. And ultimately, He gave his life so that we might have life.

To Jesus’ critics at the time, His words “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” would not have been well received by those in authority who questioned his identity and were threatened by his teachings.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How do I uphold my covenant with the LORD? Do I seek to follow the great commandments of love daily, loving the LORD with all my strength and loving others as well as myself? How do I welcome the Son of God daily to my life? What “fruits” do I offer to the LORD for all the blessings I enjoy?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, your desire for our salvation and for our life with You is difficult to comprehend because it is built upon an unfathomable love and a mercy that extends itself to all. You sent your only-begotten Son to dwell among us, to teach us, to heal us, to redeem us. Send your Spirit to us in this age so that we might more fully comprehend the breadth and width of your love and the scope of your salvation. Grant that we might acknowledge your beloved Son as our Savior. Help us to live the law of love upon which our covenant with You is built – to love You with our whole being and strength and to love one another as well as ourselves. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.