Produce
Its Fruit
Piety
Looking
up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden
with gum, balm, and resin to be taken down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers:
“What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Rather,
let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves.
After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. They sold
Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. (Genesis 37:25B-28A)
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.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees
heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although
they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded
him as a prophet.
(Matthew 21:43, 45-46)
Study
We do
not have to wait for Good Friday to confront our baser (basest) instincts. On this Second Friday of Lent, we get ready for
the confrontation that awaits.
Both
readings foreshadow the plot against Jesus.
Joseph escaped the betrayal of his brothers with his life but not with
his freedom. The son of the landowner in
the parable was not so lucky.
The
bottom line: If we betray the covenant and
abandon the Lord, the Lord will abandon us.
Action
Now is
the time to come to the aid of our neighbors, not to abandon them. In addition to looking out for our neighbors
(especially those in vulnerable elderly or illness), until further notice, Arlington
Bishop Michael Burbidge has granted dispensation from the Sunday Mass
obligation for those segments of the community who are most vulnerable to the
effects of coronavirus (those who are 60 years old or older, have chronic
illness, or immune system deficiencies), as well as those who care for a person
with such a condition. Those who are exempted should check with their parish or
the diocesan website regularly for updates.
He asks
that those who refrain from attending Mass due to illness should, if possible,
devote time to prayer, observe Mass on television or the internet, and/or pray
a Rosary. While nothing can replace attending and participating in Sunday Mass
or receiving Holy Communion, those who refrain from Sunday Mass due to illness
have not committed a mortal sin. When sick, observing the Sabbath with another
holy devotion and prayer demonstrates goodwill and sincerity.
Read
all the guidance at his site: https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/press-releases/2020/updated-diocese-of-arlington-response-to-concerns-of-the-coronavirus/
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