A Tale of Two Plots

~~~ Genesis 37:3-4,12-13 a,17 b -28 a  ~~~ Psalm 105 ~~~ Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46 ~~~

Sometimes I wonder if God looks at how we have misused his creation.

I wonder if he has second thoughts about who we have become as a society.

Jesus tries to warn the chief priests and the elders that they are 

extremely close to making a huge mistake in judgment.

He tells them the parable about the landowner who planted a vineyard.

The landowner has gone to great lengths to make his property very pleasing.

The landowner rents out the land and goes away on holiday trusting his tenants.

The landowner returns in time for the harvest.

Numerous times he sends his servants to bring back his produce.

Each time the tenants, filled with evil, kill the servants

 acting as if they are in the position of power.

Finally the owner takes his greatest risk; he sends his own son to the vineyard.

His son is of course the heir to the vineyard.

Who would be so bold as to kill the son of the owner,

but that is exactly what happens.

Those listening to this parable had already decided
what they would do to the evil tenants...

“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.”

This would be the typical answer after all that had happened.
Who would not want revenge for the death of their son?

Jesus connects this parable to the scripture passage
(psalm 118) about the rejected stone.
'...The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone
by the Lord has this been done
and it is wonderful in our eyes.'

The elders now know Jesus was talking about them,
but they are unable to make the necessary changes.
They are not spiritually strong enough to stop
what Jesus has told them was going to happen.

How many times do we find ourselves in a similar situation?...
We know better but we make a poor choice any way.
This is what happens when we keep making the same mistakes.
This is what happens when we keep committing the same sins.
Is the case of Jesus all that he did to forewarn the elders of their impending
mistake was ignored.

Even though he came to do the Father's will,
I think he wanted them to understand the consequences of their inaction.

Also today we hear the familiar story of Joseph,
whose own brothers set up a plan to rid their lives of him once and for all.
And if you recall, unbeknownst to them he is rescued.
In the end he, Joseph, turns out to be the one holding the power to save his family.
This includes saving his nasty brothers with selfish hearts.

Be vigilant about those things you struggle with removing
from your life the most.

Remember it is not how many times you fall,
but how many times you get up.
Get up and renew your intentions one more time.
You are loved.