10/8/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
33 “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.
34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.
36 Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.
37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
38 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.’
39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
41 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.”
42 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?
43 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.”

10/8/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reflection / Homily / Sermon: Matthew 21:33-43

All of us experience rejection or opposition in our everyday life. People do not like us for some reasons like the color of our skin, our physical characteristics, behavioral patterns and belief systems. Others reject or oppose us for sheer jealousy or fear of competition. There are indeed people who wants to put us down in the hope they they will be lifted up. Yet it is clear that hatred, greed and jealousy have no place in the Kingdom of God.

Let us learn to accept rejection as part of life. Yet we must never take rejection to discourage us from doing our mission. On the contrary, let us take rejection to try harder. There are many stories of successful people who were once rejected. Jesus is of course our best example. We know the whole story. The Jewish authorities did not just reject Jesus and the other prophets before Him. He was made to suffer and crucified like a criminal. He is the stone that the builders rejected but He became the cornerstone of our salvation (Verse 42).

God looks kindly on people who are rejected for their faith and good deeds. As we go about building His kingdom, we trust that God is with us as He had promised. We may face rejection and opposition but we are confident that we shall overcome. One day, God will restore all things to their original splendor.

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