Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 21,33-43.45-46
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
This is God’s property
1. He owned a vineyard. During Lent, God reminds you that you are His; chosen, called and cherished by Him. Take time to reflect: what do you currently hold as yours? What has been entrusted to your care? What are you responsible for managing and making grow? Consider the areas where you are called to nurture and cultivate—not just material possessions, but your life, your family, your loved ones, and your story. Pause and evaluate how you’re managing what truly belongs to you. Are you caring for your health, your mind, and your well-being, or have some aspects been neglected?
2. Lease. Consider whom you have allowed into your life, whether it’s friends, close relationships, or partners. Be cautious: don’t let others destroy what you’ve carefully built. Sometimes, you let people manage parts of your life, only to find they want to take over and push you aside. You open your heart, sharing everything, but in the end, they undermine your self-esteem and damage your confidence. It’s easy to let controlling people in, but it’s incredibly hard to get them out, as their actions can hurt both you and those around you.
3. Bearing fruit. Growth and giving are at the heart of a meaningful life. Ask yourself whether your life is productive and fulfilling. Look at those with whom you share your journey—do they help you prosper and grow? Ensure that you haven’t let in people who only want to control or limit you. This Lent, strive to break free from situations that hold you back and choose to lead a life that enriches those around you. Surround yourself with people who help you thrive, not those who diminish your spirit.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
