The Vineyard and the Corner Stone
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
MK 12:1-12
He began to speak to them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it,dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, They will respect my son. But those tenants said to one another, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of a heart fully surrendered to my Baptismal Mission.
Reflection
Living out our Baptismal Mission requires a constant return to the source of our strength: the Word of God. In this reading, MK 12:1-12, we are challenged to see the world through the eyes of faith. Prayer: We must begin each day in conversation with the Lord. Like the figures in the Gospel, we often have questions or burdens. Bringing these to prayer allows the Holy Spirit to align our hearts with the Father’s will. It is in this silence that our mission is born. Community:Our baptism incorporates us into a body. We are not solitary agents of the Gospel. Whether we are facing ‘tenants’ who reject the message or ‘scribes’ who test us, we rely on the support and wisdom of our faith community. To incorporate this, seek out a spiritual friend this week to share the fruits of your reflection. Mission: Every encounter is an opportunity for mission. We are sent to ‘repay to God what belongs to God’—which is our very selves. Our mission is to be a living cornerstone in our families and workplaces, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel through both word and deed. By doing so, we fulfill the Great Commission and bring the light of Pentecost into the month of June.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post