Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 6,2026

Date: Friday of the 2^nd 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:

In today’s gospel, Jesus’ parable about the vineyard owner and the evil tenants who killed the vineyard owner’s servants (prophets) and even his son (Jesus/Son of God) is a summary of salvation history up to the time of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. The listeners understood that Jesus was speaking to them because of their rejection of the prophets and even of himself, the Son of God. Jesus warns that the kingdom will be taken from them and given to others. And salvation history continues.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How have I treated those who came in my LORD’s name? Am I producing fruit myself?

Praying:

LORD,  Almighty Father, your desire is that we have life. You sent your prophets to warn us and to steer us back to You and right relationships with You and one another. But humanity rejected the prophets and did not repent. So, You sent your Son, who took on our human nature in all ways except sin. He revealed your great love and for love of You and love of us, He gave himself for our salvation, to atone for our sins. Send your Spirit so that we might be inspired and strengthened to use this Lenten season rightly, to turn, to repent, to return to You and to act according to the law and prophets, to do justice with one another, to walk humbly with You, and to work to right our relationships with You and one another. Grant that we may move daily closer to the ones You created us to be and the disciples Jesus calls us to be. 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.