Friday, March 05, 2021

Lenten Reflection Day 17

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. Matthew 21:43




When we do not love someone we become indifferent, there is a hardness of heart. We are not inclined to be generous or giving, we may even despise and seek to condemn and destroy. There is no room for understanding for we become stubborn and close minded. We allow pride, anger, envy, greed, all manner of deadly sin to enter our hearts and rule our words and actions.    


Thus Joseph’s brothers got rid of him and sold him as a slave in Egypt. Thus the Pharisees who were actually waiting for the Messiah could not see the face of salvation in the Son of God. They scorned Jesus’ humble beginnings, they hated how He challenged them to be better people. They proudly preferred their rigid, unloving version, subversion of the Law which lead them to murder Him. Thus they rejected the Son and the Father, thinking themselves above even the Almighty Himself.


There is a cautionary tale in the parable of the tenants. If we don’t appreciate what the Lord God is giving us, this gift of eternal life, He will give it to those who will want it and be fruitful ambassadors of His love to the world. 


Another important point: God is in control of history, and He rewrites our crooked lines to reveal His glory in His story. We see that in the story of Joseph who was sold as a slave, thrown in prison to later rise up and become vizier, second in power only to Pharaoh. Again, today, we are presented with a choice, what will you choose? 


 

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