Daily Reflections- June 4, 2012

A CALL TO BE FAITHFUL TENANTS

 

The Philippines is supposed to be a Catholic and Christian country yet we are perceived to be one of most corrupt countries in Asia and the world. Can we have two masters? We can be distraught by the situation or respond with integrity and trust in God’s promise of deliverance.

Corruption. Peter talks of “corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” The psalmist sings of the person in distress. Mark recounts a parable of rejection of the servants sent to the vineyard by being persecuted and killed.

What do we see? Corruption, distress and rejection can separate us from God. Corruption can rupture, crack or lead us away from God. Distress can cause us to be consumed by worries of the world. And then the Gospel of Mark observes: “But they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.”

Trust. Peter speaks of grace — divine power being bestowed upon us who are in a corrupt situation. The psalmist sings of a God we can trust who will deliver us from distress, who will answer our call. And the Gospel of Mark recalls the paradox of life that “the stone rejected has become the cornerstone.” We see a God we can depend on: His promise of redemption.

Responsibility. God bestows us grace and divine power in times of corruption. God saves us and becomes our refuge and fortress. Jesus comes to redeem us. How do we respond to a God who reaches out to us? Do we corrupt, do we doubt, do we reject? Peter speaks of faith with virtue: self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection and love. The psalmist enjoins us to call upon His name, cling to Him. Mark reminds us about the vineyard of the Lord: we are the tenants and there is a time of reckoning or accountability. Fr. Teodulo P. Gonzales, S.J

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are your sources of corruption, distress and fears?

 

Lord, in times of corruption, distress and rejection, You promise to be with us to deliver us. You promise redemption in Jesus, who was the stone rejected but became the cornerstone.