Thursday, March 12, 2009

Friday of 2nd Week of Lent

Friday 3-13-2009 of the 2nd week in Lent
Readings: Genesis 37: 3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a Psalm 105 Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46
Psalm Response: Remember the marvels the Lord has done!

The whole of Chapter 37 has some interesting thoughts we sometimes lose when we skim the intent of the story’s selection for the day.
Joseph, the dreamer was the foretaste of the Joseph the dreamer we learn of later in the story of Mary’s betrothal and her conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. When this story of Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers and his being sold into slavery, was written, God, the inspiration of all Scripture was well aware of the picture to be unfolded centuries later.
Andrew Lloyd Weber dreamed up the “Coat of Many Colors” for his hit musical “Jesus Christ, Super Star”.
Taking liberties with the Scripture stories often makes more sense than the written word, which was written in an age and culture which has no relation to the culture in which we live.
If we discount the second Joseph’s dreams, he wouldn’t have taken Mary as his wife; he wouldn’t have taken Jesus to a safe haven in Egypt. His trek to Bethlehem might not have been taken.
Had this first Joseph been killed as his brothers first had plotted, the formulation of the twelve tribes of Israel wouldn’t have taken place. And On and On!

We must realize the infinite knowledge of God, when our own lives are sometimes uprooted and seemingly destroyed. Perhaps His plan for us, which is always better than our own, made with the foreknowledge exclusive with the Almighty, will be proven in our lifetime to be the best solution we had not even thought of in our wildest dreams.

The Psalm and response are our guides when all else seems to be collapsing around us.
He knew Joseph would somehow be vindicated, released from prison to become the Vicar of the Pharaoh, and ultimately his brother’s savior. Sometimes we need to recall the kindness shown the Israelite people in ancient times and apply His thinking in place of our own.

The use of Parables to teach a lesson is used by Jesus many times, especially in the synoptic Gospels. This Parable about an absentee landlords expectations and the result of his disregard for the laborers needs is often taken to be an allegory of heaven’s images.
The vineyard was often used to describe the nation of Israel; the workers the people; the servants of the owner, God’s prophets and messengers; the son, God’s own representative His only Son.
The use of Scripture was often a device to show the authenticity of the teacher’s credentials. Here, Jesus cites Psalm 118: 22-23; and, Isaiah 28:16 predicting the “Stone rejected by the Builders would become the cornerstone of the New Jerusalem, the Church!” We don’t often wish to grant the authority to the Church Christ had given it. All sorts of excuses release us from our obligation to believe the word of God by our own “inerrant” interpretation. However, when we use our own thoughts to replace the studied expertise of the Church we make our trip to righteousness wary indeed!

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