May 30, 2016

May 30

May 30, 2016:  Monday, 9th week, Ordinary Time
  • 'Phone' tie bar:  Jesus our Lord 'called' us by his glory and power (1st reading); "he'll call on me and I'll answer him" (psalm)
  • Tie with grapes:  Parable of the vineyard (gospel)
  • 'Hand' tie pin:  Tenants sent servant away empty-handed. (gospel)
  • 'Gun' pin:  Tenants killed the son; the owner will kill them (gospel) 
  • 'Stone' tie pin:  "The stone the builders rejected became the cornerstone..." (gospel)
  • 'Eyeball' pin:  "It is wonderful in our eyes” (gospel)
  • Green in tie:  Ordinary Time season
  • Red, white, and blue shirt:  Memorial Day
Listen

The killing of the master’s servants and son—representing the prophets and Christ himself—shows a people closed in on itself, not open to God's promises, without memory, prophecy and hope.  The leaders only want to erect a wall of laws; they cage the Holy Spirit by not allowing prophecy in hope.
Jesus speaks to a religious system of corruption, worldliness, and concupiscence.  In the desert Jesus was tempted to lose the memory of his own mission, to not give way to prophecy, and to prefer security to hope.  So Jesus reproaches, "You traverse half the world to have one proselyte, and when you find him, you make him a slave." This 'church' makes slaves, so it's understandable how Paul reacts when he speaks of slavery to the law and of liberty that grace gives:  a people is free when it has memory, makes room for prophets, and doesn't lose hope.
The vineyard is the image of the People of God, the Church, and our soul, for which the Father cares with love and tenderness.  To rebel against him is to lose the memory of God's gift.  To remember and not make mistakes, return to the roots.  Do I have the memory of the wonders the Lord has worked in my life?  Can I remember the Lord's gifts?  Can I open my heart to the prophets, to him who tells me, "this isn’t working, you have to go beyond; go ahead, take a risk"?  Am I open, or afraid, closed  in the cage of the law?  Do I have hope in God’s promises, like Abraham, who left his home without knowing where he was going, only because he hoped in God?
Read
  • 2 Pt 1:2-7  God's power has given us life.  Through his promises you may share the divine nature.  Supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection, and love.
Animate (but it won't wave)
  • Ps 91:1-2, 14-16  "In you, my God, I place my trust."  I will deliver him, answer him, be with him, glorify him, give him long life, and show him my salvation.
  • Mk 12:1-12  “A man leased his vineyard to tenant farmers and left.  When he sent a servant to obtain some of the produce, they beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  When he sent others, they beat or killed them.  He finally sent his son, thinking they'd respect him, but they killed him, expecting to inherit everything.  The owner will kill the tenants and give the vineyard to others.  "The stone the builders rejected has become the  cornerstone..."  They realized he'd addressed the parable to them....
Reflect
    • Creighton:  This parable was meant for the chief priests, scribes, and elders, living their lives for God and serving his people; they didn’t start out vindictive like the tenants.  But it's hard when someone comes in from a different corner and tells you how to do things.  Outside perspectives can be valuable, listening can be more important that being right, and my best intentions can miss something.  May I trust God first and treat others in the vineyard with love.
      The wicked husbandmen/ Luyken
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Loving your child's murderers":  The owner of the vineyard seems naive for continuing to send slaves to beatings or death, then sending his son.  The owner represents God the Father, who sent prophet after prophet to turn us away from sin; almost all were murdered or otherwise rejected.  Then God sent his Son, knowing he'd be tortured and murdered.  If you knew a person would kill your child, would you send your child to him?  Would you create someone you knew would kill your child?  But God did this, out of love, when he created each of us and sent Jesus to save us.
    • DailyScripture.net:  "They will respect my Son":  It was normal for owners to lease their estates.   Jesus' story about wicked tenants offended the scribes and Pharisees; they recognized it referred to God's dealing with a rebellious people.  The parable speaks to us today too, of God's generosity, trust, patience, and justice.  Jesus knew he'd be rejected and be killed but would rise.  We share his glory by submitting to his rule; he promises we'll bear fruit if we abide in him.  The Lord entrusts his gifts to us, gives us work in his vineyard, and promises our labor won't be in vain if we persevere.  We can expect trials but will triumph.
      • Luke Kirby, priest, martyr
      • Yorkshire Martyrs Margaret Clitherow (hid Catholic priests), Henry Walpole (lawyer, convert, priest) 20 Blessed and and 30 Venerable companions...
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