First Reading (Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28)
Reading from the Book of Genesis.
Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age. So he made a long robe with sleeves for him. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, and Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.”
So he went off after his brothers and found them in Dothan. They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
But Reuben heard this and rescued him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Mt 21:33-43, 45-46)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord!
At that time, Jesus spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying: “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce.
But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I wish to begin our reflection with a simple yet profound question: how has your life been? What have been the experiences you’ve had in the past days, weeks, months? What are the challenges you face in your daily journey? I am sure each one of us has a unique story, with ups and downs, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. It is within this complex tapestry of life that we wish to immerse ourselves today, in the light of Sacred Scriptures.
Today’s readings present us with two powerful stories. In the first reading, from the book of Genesis, we encounter the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph was a young man with dreams and hopes, but he was also the target of envy and hatred from his brothers. They couldn’t bear the idea that Joseph was their father Jacob’s favorite. In order to get rid of him, his brothers sell him as a slave.
This story brings to light the reality of envy and selfishness, which we often encounter in our own lives. How often are we tempted to wish ill upon those we consider “favored” or “luckier” than us? How often do we let ourselves be consumed by pride and bitterness, instead of celebrating the blessings and achievements of others? Joseph’s story challenges us to confront these negative tendencies within ourselves and to seek healing and transformation in God.
But Joseph’s story doesn’t end in despair and suffering. On the contrary, it is a story of redemption and divine purpose. Throughout his journey, Joseph undergoes many trials, but he always remains faithful to God. And in the end, he becomes an instrument of blessing for his family and for the entire nation of Egypt. His story reminds us that even in the most difficult circumstances, God is at work in our lives, weaving a greater and more beautiful plan.
The second reading, from the Gospel of Matthew, brings us the parable of the wicked tenants. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who plants a vineyard, surrounds it with a fence, and leases it to tenants. But when the owner sends his servants to collect the fruits, the tenants mistreat them and even kill the owner’s son. Jesus uses this story to illustrate the rejection and mistreatment he would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders of his time.
This parable invites us to reflect on our own response to God. How often do we reject God’s voice in our lives? How often do we refuse to recognize divine authority and rebel against the principles and values he presents to us? The parable of the wicked tenants challenges us to examine our hearts and to repent of any attitude of rebellion or indifference toward God.
My beloved, these biblical stories speak to us of deep spiritual truths, but how can we bring these truths into our everyday lives? How can we apply these principles in our daily journey of faith? Allow me to share with you some practical reflections.
Firstly, we must examine ourselves in relation to envy and selfishness. When we feel tempted to envy or resent the blessings of others, we must stop and remember that each of us has a unique purpose and a special calling from God. Instead of giving in to envy, we must learn to celebrate the achievements of others and to seek the good of all.
Secondly, we must cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Instead of complaining about the difficulties and challenges of life, we must strive to find reasons to be thankful. Even in the most difficult situations, God is working in our lives for our good. We must trust in his providence and thank him for the blessings he grants us daily.
Thirdly, we must recognize God’s authority in our lives. He is the owner of the vineyard, the creator of all things. We must submit our will to his and follow his commandments. This implies living a life of righteousness, love for neighbor, and justice in all areas of our existence.
Fourthly, we must remember that we are called to bear fruit. Just as the owner of the vineyard expected the tenants to produce fruit, God expects us to produce fruit in our spiritual life. These fruits can be manifested in our actions of love, compassion, generosity, and service to others. We must strive to be faithful disciples of Jesus, reflecting his love and his light in the world.
Now, my brothers and sisters, I invite you to close your eyes for a moment and reflect on these spiritual truths. Think about your own lives, your struggles and challenges, your joys and blessings. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your hearts, revealing the areas where you need healing, transformation, and renewal.
As we reflect, let us remember that God’s grace is available to each one of us. He invites us to draw near to him, to surrender ourselves completely to him. He offers us his unconditional love, his infinite mercy, and his grace that empowers us to live according to his will.
My beloved, today is not just a day to hear words, but also to act. Let us make a personal commitment to seek transformation in our lives, to make room for God’s grace to work in us. Let us commit to abandon any attitude of envy, selfishness, and rebellion, and to embrace a life of gratitude, submission, and fruitfulness.
May the stories of Joseph and the wicked tenants become more than mere words in our minds, but a living and tangible reality in our lives. May they inspire us and challenge us to live as true disciples of Christ, reflecting his light and his love in all that we do.
May the grace, love, and divine hope be poured out abundantly upon each one of you. May God bless you and empower you to live according to his Word. May each step you take toward transformation be filled with his presence and his guidance.
So be it. Amen.
