March 13, 2009: Friday: 2nd Week of Lent

Genesis 37.3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Matthew 21.33-43, 45-46

What Jesus was saying should also be a cautionary tale to everyone, today, who makes a habit of enjoying the privileges that go with the physical Church. Let us ask ourselves whether we, as a people, who own the vineyard and all of its advantages, do we grow fruits in due season?

Jesus shows us a different way to be.  Our thinking and talking and worship of Jess cannot take place in individualistic isolation.  rather, it takes place within the context of the Church, past and present, and in the public sphere of the same kind of greedy world, into which Jesus plunged.  we believe that God, in utter humility, became human for us at a particular place and time in first century Palestine. He came and spoke to us and included us all in His family.  First century folks looked at Jesus' followers and knew they had been with Jesus.  May it be so with us!

Reflections by Fr. Paul Gaffey, and is taken from Bible Diary 2009, Claretian Publications.