Vintage Time
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46 - Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
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.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Did you never read in the Scriptures…?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
This Gospel passage is set in Jerusalem, during the week before Jesus’ death. Here He is teaching the people using parables. This parable is about how the Jews have not been faithful to their God. Its setting makes it especially important. Jesus is telling the Jews that because of their unfaithfulness their blessings will be taken away and given to another people. The Gospel says that: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that He was speaking about them.” So they want to arrest Him, and very soon they will.
Jesus says to His listeners, “Did you never read in the Scriptures…?” Are we familiar with the Scriptures? If we are very familiar with the Scriptures, then we will be able to understand what is happening around us and how we should respond. Jesus is saying that the Scriptures actually relate to our lives here and now, and that we should try to recognize this. Is there a time in our family life where Scripture seemed to give us guidance on how to live? Do we seek to be guided by the truths of the Gospel? How can we better listen to Scripture during times of prayer? There may be some very practical things we can do, such as changing how we sit, what we look at, etc….
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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