Lent 2 Friday – Gen 31:3-4,12-13,17-28; Ps 104:16-21; Matthew 21:33-43,45-46
The story of Joseph being sold into slavery and the parable of the tenants in the vineyard both reveal how greed and jealousy can lead to great evil. In these examples, favouritism from the father, coupled with material wealth, becomes a source of envy, stirring wicked actions that flow from hearts poisoned by jealousy. Such is the impression we might form if we reflect only on a human level. However, the deeper truth lies in the words of Psalm 118, quoted by Jesus: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone . . .”
In Joseph’s rejection, salvation emerges for Jacob and his sons during the famine. Likewise, in Jesus’s rejection by the chosen people, salvation is extended to all enslaved by sin. Again and again, God reveals His power by transforming what appears weak and sinful into something mighty and filled with grace. This principle of faith invites us to face the future with confidence, even amidst doubt and rejection. It gives us hope, especially when we realise that we may have been among those rejecting Him. Despite everything, God’s hand remains mercifully outstretched toward us.
Examination of Conscience
- What do I perceive as strength and weakness in my life?
- Do I recognise the hand of God, stretched out towards me at all times?
- Am I capable of gratitude and trust?
- Do I focus solely on what shocks or scandalises me, or can I discern God’s grace amidst it all?