Homily: Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent - Betrayal and Goodness

Our daily readings often have common themes. This is especially true during the season of Lent.

One theme in our readings today is betrayal. His brothers could not stand the fact that Joseph was loved so deeply by his father, Jacob. Joseph was virtuous, Joseph was gifted, Joseph was the son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel.

And in the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable of a betrayal. A vineyard owner had leased his vineyard to a number of tenant farmers, who claim the land for themselves. The tenant farmers, seized, beat, sent away, and even killed the landowner's servants, and they seize and killed the landowner's only beloved son as well.

These parables of betrayal foreshadow, of course, Jesus' betrayal, by Judas. Jesus, the only begotten son, sent to speak the truth, Jesus, healer of souls, Jesus the innocent one is put to death by those who reject his goodness. Yes, he is betrayed by Judas, and he is betrayed by all of us, when we reject his truth, when we fail to stand up for the faith when it is being twisted and mocked.

A second theme is how our mighty God is able to bring good even out of evil.

Because of his betrayal, Joseph was sold into slavery, thrown in jail, though eventually he becomes part of Pharaoh's court, rises up to become Pharaoh's regent, ruling over egypt in a time of famine. Joseph's brothers come before him, Joseph becomes their judge but also their savior. He becomes a savior for all of Israel in a time of famine, in a time when they carried the guilt of their betrayal.

And of course Our Lord's betrayal is transformed by God into the source of salvation available to all men of every age. The sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden will be called on Easter a “Happy Fault”, the friday of Jesus' crucifixion will be called “Good Friday” precisely because God is able to bring good even out of the greatest of evils.

We are called this Lent, not to remain in evil, nor to be complacent about the selfishness in our hearts or in our world. We are called to conversion. “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from the wicked,” Our Lord says today, “and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Am I a good steward of the gifts God has given m? Do I give back what God has given, or do I keep it for myself? Am I producing good fruit with the time I have been given?

May great acts of love flow from our Christian faith this Lent, may we never fall into envy or hatred of the truth, but produce good fruit for God's kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.