5 June, 2023 | Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
Gospel Mk 12:1-12
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders 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.
Reflections:
God blessed the Israelites and sought their faithfulness, and even continued to call them to obedience through messengers when they were lax. As the culmination God sent Jesus, his beloved, only Son. - The one who has all authority and the one who is dearest to his heart. The prophetic statement from Jesus in today’s Gospel is a reminder of God’s sovereign plan and of His incredible grace. Jesus accomplished salvation and it is available for all who will believe. Jesus used this opportunity to warn the Jewish leaders, but they continued in their plans to silence and ultimately kill Jesus.
Activity:
Consider your own heart: How will you respond to God who is patient, loving, just and gracious?
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