[ Today's Readings ]
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Jesus, teach us not to reject the cornerstone. Help us to accept your plans. Help us to welcome you.
Jesus, you are the beloved son of the Father. But we would often prefer to have your blessings without you around. It seems to our darkened minds that your presence limits our enjoyment of wealth and blessings we have.
‘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.’
Needing you to receive blessings can make us jealous. We don't like to admit it, even to ourselves, but we'd rather not need anyone. We'd rather be self-sufficient.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons,
they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.
Jesus, somehow we feel diminished by the unique love the Father has for you. It seems as if, somewhere deep within each of our hearts, we want to be God ourselves, to the exclusion of all others. We hear the Father say, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (see Matthew 17:5) and rather than feeling blessed we feel obliged and burdened.
But you love us anyway LORD. You recognize the sinfulness that controls the hearts of humankind. And just as you disguise yourself to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in secret (see John 7:10) you disguise your glory with humility in order to come among us.
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (see Philippians 2:6-7).
Just as Joseph is sold into slavery so that the blessings he has can ultimately be an advantage and salvation for his family and indeed entire nations so too do you take the form of a slave, Jesus.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
Teach us not to reject you. All the vineyards of the world are yours. Truly there is no inheritance apart from you. This isn't selfishness on your part. You yourself are the best gift of the Father for us. Let us relinquish our own control over our vineyards into your hands.
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.
You are the cornerstone. We do not reject you, Jesus! We marvel at you. We wonder at the things the Lord has done! Help us to let go of our pride so that we can bear fruit for you.
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