Daily Gospel Reflection for June 1, 2015

Today's Gospel: Mark 12:1-12

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

The parable about the vineyard and the tenant farmers in many ways echoes the experience of Christians in today’s world. How often are we beaten down by those who tell us we cannot pray in public, or display symbols of our faith in a place of business, or say the name of God in public schools? How often do we hear of Christians being slaughtered for their faith in war-torn areas of the world? How often are we rejected by friends and family who think religion is old-fashioned? It is not easy to be a Christian in a self-centered society that places emphasis on the happiness and fulfillment of the individual, over and above that of the common good.

Our Christian faith offers us a wonderful vineyard filled with an abundant harvest of blessings and graces, morals, integrity, and ethics, rooted in faith in Jesus Christ. It seems, however, that the tenants of this passing world are bent on destroying the vineyard. Scripture reassures us, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.” As Christian wives and mothers, our challenge for today is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus as the cornerstone of our life, and we will surely bring about an abundant harvest in the vineyard of the Lord.

Ponder:

Reflect on a person or situation in your life whose principles contradict the beliefs of Christianity. How can you be a good tenant and sow seeds of love and compassion?

Pray:

Gracious God,
You call all people to follow you,
Yet some are so resistant to hearing your Word.
Be with us this day and help us to sow seeds of
love, mercy, and compassion to all those who do not know you.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Dr. Mary Amore