“It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the corner stone.”
Matthew 21 : 44
Both the first Reading (Genesis) and the Gospel (Matthew) today speak to us of peoples’ jealousy and envy at others’ better luck than their own. The plotting and planning of Joseph’s brothers to kill him, their youngest brother, is quite cruel. Yet at least, good sense prevailed, his life was saved, due to the pleading of another brother who secretly wanted to save Joseph.
“We must not take his life, he said, shed no blood.” On second thoughts, they sold him to merchants who were passing by; they in turn took him to Egypt. Joseph’s life turned out very eventful; as we read later in the story; he was the saviour of his brothers at a time of famine: the wheels came full circle. What a lovely lesson in total forgiveness on the part of Joseph.
The Gospel story tells of the greed of tenants to whom the vineyard was leased out. They thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third, and so on until it came to the owner’s son; he was treated in exactly the same way. This passage is obviously predicting the time when the Jews would seize Jesus and put him to death because they could not accept his teachings.
And of course, Jesus’ death on Calvary has provided the road to salvation for each and every one of us.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for showing me the path to forgiveness in so many ways; may I always be ready to forgive those who offend and hurt me, and above all, not to harbour resentments. Amen
