2
Peter 1:2-7 / Mark 12:1-12
Peter sends greetings: May you be filled with
peace.
The bishops of the United States wrote a Pastoral Letter on War and Peace in
the early 1980's. In it they pointed out
that the biblical idea of peace is not so much the absence of war as it is the presence of a
right relationship with God. We sometimes
forget that peace begins in the soul of each one of us.
An old Chinese proverb explains how:
“If there is right in the soul, there will be beauty in the
person.
If there is beauty in the person, there will be
harmony in the home. If there is harmony in
the home, there will be order in the nation. If
there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
****
What is our present relationship with God? “Lord, make us
instruments of your peace.” St. Francis of
Assisi
****
We
may assume that maturity comes with age, and that as we grow older, we will
also grow wiser. That may not be the case always, but still we cannot take
growth and maturity for granted. Every now and then, we may need to do a
reality check on ourselves so that we can see ourselves clearer and to see what
is it that really matters to us. The 1st reading states a direction for our
life in Christ when it says that may we have more and more grace and peace as
we come to know our Lord more and more. And it also charts out a spiritual
check on ourselves to let us see if we are indeed growing in grace and peace.
Beginning
from faith, and then going on to goodness, understanding, self-control,
patience, true devotion, kindness and then finally love. So with faith, there
must be a growth and maturity that bears fruit in love and the 1st reading
urges us that to attain this, we have to do our utmost best. To slack in our
spiritual development and to be complacent is to end up like the evil tenants
in the parable of the vineyard.
We
must not take love for granted nor must we ever resort to violence to get the
things we desire. Let us have a sincere and honest reflection before the Lord
and ask for the grace to see ourselves truthfully so that we will be at peace
with God, with others and with ourselves.
****
Monday of 9th Week of
Ordinary Time
GOD’S VINEYARD
Introduction
Probably written by someone belonging to the group of
Peter’s disciples in the 2nd century, the author of 2 Peter warns against false
teachers and against fear of the coming of Christ in the Parousia. The parable
of the wicked farmers or tenants who rent and cultivate the vineyard describes
first of all in moving terms how God loves his chosen people (Israel, but also
us) as a winegrower does his vineyard. It is a theme dear to the Scriptures. He
plants and tends it with care. God’s love comes first. Then, he leaves his work
to be continued and developed by people, entrusts it to them and wants to see
it bear fruit. He sends even his beloved Son. Israel did not yield the expected
produce. Do we?
Opening Prayer
God, you love us. You ask of us today: “My people, answer
me: What more could I have done for you?” Teach and help us to respond with our
whole being to your daily forgiveness and patience, to the riches of life
brought us by Jesus, to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, that we may be a
people that bears lasting fruits. May we bring to all a justice animated by
love; may we learn to share as you do with us. Show us your mercy through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Commentary
The Letter of Peter reminds us that divine power has made
the life of authentic virtue a true possibility. With faith at its base, many
virtues emerge in our lives. Knowledge, self-control, perseverance, concern for
others are all effective because of God’s power, with love as the crowning
virtue. The great tragedy of the vineyard parable is not only the rejection of
Christ but the rejection of all that his gift of the Spirit life makes
possible. The human being is intended to be the glory of God, fully alive. That
means living the qualities that love of God will infuse in us. That is the
meaning of the great Easter gift. To turn our backs on Christ is to walk away
from all those qualities that make of life such a precious gift. As the reading
from Peter today states, God has bestowed on us everything necessary for a life
of genuine piety. In turning our backs on the Son of the vineyard’s Owner, we
suffer an immense loss. Let us pray that we persevere in faith with courage and
love.
Points to Ponder
Grace in a variety of virtues
Appreciating the goodness of God
The primacy of love
Intercessions
– For us the Church, that it may always remain young and
faithful and inspire its members and even the world with a sense of hope and
deep love, we pray:
– For the whole Christian people, that we may show patience
and compassion to people who go astray, to those who disappoint us, and accept
them as the Lord accepts us, we pray: – And for all in our Christian community
here, that we may be grateful that the Lord has made us his vineyard and the
tenants from whom he expects much, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Faithful God, we bring these gifts before you to celebrate
how you have made with us, your chosen people, a new and everlasting covenant through
the death and rising of your Son. Do not allow us to become proud of being the
people you love, but help us to be worthy of your trust and to give you a
response of deep faith expressed in service. Grant us this through Christ, our
Lord.
Prayer after
Communion
Lord, mighty God, in this Eucharist, your Son has been your
encouraging word and your food of strength for building up your kingdom among
your people. Deepen our trust that Christ will stay with us and that he is the
foundation on which we build. Make us inventive and creative in sharing with
all who are willing to listen the Good News we have received and to respond to
your faithful love. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.
Blessing
We are God’s vineyard, God’s cherished people. We are
answerable to God and sent by him to make his Good News known by our words and
deeds, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
