The Catholic Calendar for Friday, March 12, 2004
Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Genesis 37:3-4,12-13,17-28
Psalm 105:16-21
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

There are so many lessons that God teaches us through His Word. In the story of Jacob and Joseph, we see intense love; in the hatred of his brothers, we see envy for the love of the father for the son. This same envy is portrayed in the Gospel. How foolish is envy. We should rather praise our Father who loves so strongly. Yet, God uses our sin to yet accomplish His purposes. Jesus' horrible death on the Cross wrought our salvation.

Rather than envy love, we should try all the harder to merit the same love. Both the brothers of Joseph and the landowners of the parable are rejecting the love which the Father has for them. Hatred and envy cast out the love to which we are blind. But God does not stop loving those who hate. Rather, His providence is always devising ways to lavish greater love on the sinner. Eventually, Reuben and his brothers benefited immensely from Joseph's forgiveness. It was a manifestation of the overriding love of the Father Himself, even for those who hate. Nothing conquers love.

- Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(smartins at twcny dot rr dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:28 AM