The Holy Gospel according to Mark 12:1-12
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders in parables.
“A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants
to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.
But they seized him, beat him,
and sent him away empty-handed.
Again he sent them another servant.
And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.
He sent yet another whom they killed.
So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed.
He had one other to send, a beloved son.
He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
So they seized him and killed him,
and threw him out of the vineyard.
What then will the owner of the vineyard do?
He will come, put the tenants to death,
and give the vineyard to others.
Have you not read this Scripture passage:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?”
They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd,
for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.
So they left him and went away.
Reflection:
We, too, plant vineyards in the soil of our lives and welcome others into them. In time, the Lord may call us to leave them behind for reasons known only to Him. When we return, longing to share in their fruit, we may find that we are no longer received. Yet even in rejection, we remember that what was planted was first entrusted to us by God’s grace. And like the cornerstone set in place by the Lord, we trust that no vineyard can endure apart from the foundation He has laid for us.
Let us consider an example of our own cultural context. You build a family with your spouse and do all you can to raise your children with strong morals, values, and faith rooted in Scripture. We know we are not perfect, but we still strive to do our best. As your children grow into adulthood, they leave home for education, work, or to begin families of their own, and over time their values or perspectives may change. Often this is not out of defiance, but because of social pressures, financial situations, cultural shifts, or changing norms. When they return, things may feel different. Their beliefs, work ethic, and priorities may no longer be the same. Then comes the difficult question of compromise: Would you accept what conflicts with your beliefs, or do you take a stand and risk greater division?
This passage reveals how easily we can push God to the edges of our lives. It is easy to praise Jesus when life is going well, but true discipleship calls for full surrender, it’s not just a place for Him on Sundays. Yet the message does not end in judgment, because Jesus offers us grace through the sacraments. He reminds us that we are not the cornerstone and invites us to make Him the cornerstone of our daily lives. In doing so, He warns us against entitlement and resisting God’s authority, reminding us that all we have is His gift and that we are called to be faithful stewards, not possessive owners, of His blessings. Make Jesus your cornerstone every day; all day.
Action of the Day:
What Vineyards in your life needs revisiting and needs cultivating? What vineyards has God been patiently waiting for you to start or join? Have you asked God to intercede in your discernment?
Audio Reflection:
