Friday, March 9, 2012

The kingdom taken from the unrepentant

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 21:33-46)
Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Pamatii ninyo ang isa pa gid ka paanggid. May isa ka tawo nga may duta nga ginpatamnan niya sang ubas. Ginpakudalan niya ini, kag nagpahimo siya sang buho sa dako nga bato para pulugaan sang ubas. Nagpatindog man siya sang isa ka balantayan. Pagkatapos ginpaagsahan niya ang iya talamnan kag naglakat sa malayo nga lugar. 

Sang tion na sang pagpamupo sang ubas, ginsugo niya ang iya mga suluguon sa mga agsador sa pagkuha sang iya parte sa patubas. 

Pag-abot didto sang mga suluguon, ginpangdakop sila sang mga agsador. Ginbunal nila ang isa, ginpatay ang isa, kag ginbato pa gid nila ang isa. 

Pagkatapos sadto nagsugo ang tag-iya sang madamo pa gid nga mga suluguon sang sa nauna. Pero amo man gihapon ang ginhimo sa ila. 

Sang ulihi ginpadala niya ang iya anak. Naghunahuna siya nga tahuron nila ang iya anak. 

Pero pagkakita sang mga agsador nga ang iya anak na ang nag-abot, nagsiling sila, 'Yari na ang manunubli. Dali, patyon ta agod mangin aton ang iya palanublion.' 

Gani gindakop nila siya kag gindala didto sa guwa sang talamnan kag ginpatay." 

Dayon nagsiling si Jesus, "Kon magbalik ang tag-iya sang talamnan, ano bala ang iya himuon sa sadto nga mga agsador?" 

Nagsabat sila, "Pamatyon niya yadtong malain nga mga agsador kag indi gid niya pagkaluoyan. Dayon paagsahan niya ang iya talamnan sa mga agsador nga magahatag sang iya parte sa kada patubas." 

Nagsiling pa si Jesus sa ila, "Wala bala ninyo mabasahi ang ginasiling sa Kasulatan? 'Ang bato nga ginsikway sang mga panday amo gid ang nangin pundasyon nga bato. Amo ini ang ginhimo sang Ginoo, kag makatilingala ini sa aton!' " 

Nagsiling pa gid si Jesus sa ila, "Amo ini nga ang ginharian sang Dios kuhaon sa inyo kag ihatag sa mga tawo nga nagatuman sang iya mga ginapahimo. 

Ang bisan sin-o nga mahulog sa sini nga bato mabali, pero ang mahulugan sang amo nga bato madugmok gid.]" 

Pagkabati sang manugdumala nga mga pari kag mga Pariseo sang mga paanggid ni Jesus, nahangpan nila nga sila ang iya ginatumod. 

Gani gusto na gid nila nga dakpon si Jesus, pero nahadlok sila sa mga tawo tungod kay ginakilala nila nga propeta si Jesus.

Prayers:
"Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us; for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful redeemer, friend, and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, for your own sake." (prayer of St. Richard of Chichester, 13th century)  
***
Reflection of the Daily Gospel:
Do you over feel cut off or separated from God? Joseph was violently rejected by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt. His betrayal and suffering, however, resulted in redemption and reconciliation for his brothers. "Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:19-20) Joseph prefigures Jesus who was betrayed by one of his own disciples and put to death on the cross for our redemption. Jesus came to reconcile us with an all-just and all-merciful God. His parables point to the work he came to do – to bring us the kingdom of God. 

What is the message of the parable of the vineyard? Jesus’ story about an absentee landlord and his not-so-good tenants would have made sense to his audience. The hills of Galilee were lined with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to let out their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of collecting rent.Why did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the scribes and Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus' listeners would likely understand this parable as referring to God's dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people. 

This parable speaks to us today as well. It richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals with his people. First, it tells us of God's generosity and trust. The vineyard is well equipped with everything the tenants need. The owner went away and left the vineyard in the hands of the tenants. God, likewise trusts us enough to give us freedom to run life as we choose. This parable also tells us of God's patience and justice. Not once, but many times he forgives the tenants their debts. But while the tenants take advantage of the owner's patience, his judgment and justice prevail in the end. 

Jesus foretold both his death and his ultimate triumph. He knew he would be rejected and be killed, but he also knew that would not be the end. After rejection would come glory – the glory of resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. The Lord blesses his people today with the gift of his kingdom. And he promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him (see John 15:1-11). He entrusts his gifts and grace to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard – the body of Christ. He promises that our labor will not be in vain if we persevere with faith to the end (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). We can expect trials and even persecution. But in the end we will see triumph. Do you labor for the Lord with joyful hope and with confidence in his victory?

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