Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 / Matthew
21:33-43, 45-46
This parable reveals three important points. First, it reveals God’s
patience. God gave the tenant farmers three chances, even in the face of
violence. Second, it reveals Jesus’ uniqueness. Jesus is not just another
prophet, like the other prophets (slaves). Third, it reveals our accountability. It shows that sooner or later
we will be held accountable to God for our actions, just as the tenant farmers religious leaders) were held accountable
for their actions.
****
In what ways has God exercised great patience with us, just as he
did with the tenant farmers? “Patience is power; with time and patience the
mulberry leaf becomes silk.” Chinese proverb
****
Family feuds are not just something that we see only in movies and
soap operas. It happens in real life. We read about it in the papers, we hear
about it from friends, it may have even happened to us. One of the main causes
of these family feuds is over money and property. Over money and property,
children have brought parents to court and vice versa. Over money and property,
sibling rivalry can become so ugly that blood relationships can become like
dirty water. It had happened from the earliest times in the story of Cain and
Abel. It happened between Joseph and his brothers as we heard in the 1st
reading. That coat with long sleeves was a symbol of favour and blessing. Over
that coat, Joseph's brothers came up with evil thoughts like murder, and then
mugging and then slavery. It was also over money and property that the tenants
in the parable of today's gospel resorted to violence and murder.
It can
be frightening to know, and even to realize, that money and material possession
can have such a destructive grip over us to the extent that we can even lose
our sense of integrity and morality.
Hence,
the Lenten practice of alms-giving has that purpose of helping us break free
from this grip of being money-minded and being possessed by materialism. The
Charities Week envelope is a means of helping us in this Lenten spiritual
exercise. Let us
see if we can give cheerfully. After all whatever we have is given to us from
above, and we are only stewards, not owners.
****
LITURGY
Introduction
Joseph suffered because his brothers were
jealous. Yet later he would save them from famine. Jesus was rejected and died
for our sins. He became the keystone for a new kingdom, for the life of all.
And we? We want happiness without pain, without paying the price for it, though
sacrifice and happiness are close relatives. If the grain of wheat does not
die… We know this, but it’s too uncomfortable to put into practice if we are
not forced by circumstances.
Penitential Rite:
-The brothers of
Joseph hated him because their father was fond of him. As you call us to look
at our jealousies
- The brothers of
Joseph finally wanted to kill him, as our jealousies become dangerously harmful
actions in life
-Judah pleads
with his brothers to spare the life of Joseph; as we learn to defend and
protect innocent lives
Opening Prayer
God, we do not want to die; we want to
live. We want to be happy but without paying the price. We belong to our times,
when sacrifice and suffering are out of fashion. God, make life worth the pain
to be lived, Give us back the age-old realization that life means to be born
again and again in pain, that it may become again a journey of hope to you,
together with Christ Jesus our Lord.
General Intercession
– For those who are betrayed in their
friendship and trust, we pray:
– For street children and young people
abandoned and neglected by their families, we pray:
– For all those who suffer in their bodies
and for those seriously ill, that they may find strength and consolation in the
cross of our Lord, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, we celebrate your Son's
victory over death. Through him, you give us life and teach us to accept death.
Lord, help us to love life without refusing to suffer when necessary for the
sake of love and renewal. May we see the fear of death and the urge for life in
the light of the life and death of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, make us fully accept the
realities of life: that there is no birth without pain, no growth without
effort, no adulthood without struggle, no wisdom without experience and
practice. God, raise us above ourselves, that we may understand and accept the
wisdom of the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Blessing
Joseph forgave his brothers and became a
blessing to them. On the cross, Jesus brought us forgiveness and life and the
beautiful sign of this was how he forgave those who had led him to the cross.
May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
