Ninth Monday of Ordinary Time

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?”

Respect is something we should give to others every moment of our lives. This is because God dwells in all of us from the lowliest of the poor to the wealthiest of the rich. The image of God is emblazoned upon us and everyone around us. As such, we should treat everyone as God's Beloved Son. We cannot let selfishness, greed, pride, or any other vices get in the way of treating others with love and mercy. The tenants in this parable allowed their greed to rule over them and led them to do horrible things to others. They rejected the call to be good to and love others. They decided to build their lives on their own debased ideas. As Christians, we are called to cast aside our baser instincts and instead allow God to live and work though us so we can bear good fruits for the glory of God and the good of all.

Do we show respect to God in all things? How can we rid ourselves of the vices that might lead us astray? How can we become good and faithful tenants in the vineyard of souls that is the earth?

O Lord, let us not reject you, but rather choose to always respect you and the work you've placed before us.

Amen.