Friday, March 21, 2014

Homily: Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent - The stone which the builders rejected

In both first reading and Gospel we hear of rejection.  In the first reading Joseph’s brothers rejected him and plotted to kill him.  In the Gospel, in the parable of the wicked tenants we hear how the tenant farmers reject, seize and kill, not only the vineyard owner's servants but also his son.

Jesus refers to himself as the stone which the builders rejected.  He too will be seized and killed by those who reject him.

The tale of rejection goes back to the beginning when Adam and Eve rejected God’s command, thereby rejecting His plan for them and for mankind.  By rejecting God they forfeited paradise.

The sinner rejects God’s truth and God’s plan; he pretends that his life belongs to him for his own purposes.  

Sometimes the teachings of the Church are found difficult—they infringe on our sinful habits and attachments—and so they are rejected.  They are difficult so often because we have hardened our hearts against them.
Yet, as G.K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” 

God sends his missionaries and messengers into our lives in order to free us from pretend lifestyles.  The Gospel helps us to remember that I am not the vineyard owner, merely a tenant; and God has sent his Son, to free us from our sins.


Our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are meant to till the hardened soil of our hearts; to wake us up out of our tendency to reject God’s truth, and to help us obtain a life free of envy, impatience, jealousy, violence, arrogance, self-centeredness—for a life of authentic service of the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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