Home Bible CATHOLIC MASS: Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr 6.1.15 – Video, Scripture, Links

CATHOLIC MASS: Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr 6.1.15 – Video, Scripture, Links

, , ,

Bible-200“‘A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers …. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce … … “The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes” …’

Mass Readings 6.1.15 – FIRST READING: Tobit 1:3; 2:1A-8 – PSALM 112:1B-2, 3B-4, 5-6 – GOSPEL: Mark 12:1-12 – FIND A MASS: MassTimes.org – FIND A MASS: TheCatholicDirectory.com

 

DAILY MASS: Catholic TV (Boston)

 

DAILY MASS: Toronto

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 112:1B-2, 3B-4, 5-6

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

GOSPEL

GOSPEL: Mark 12:1-12

Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard leased to murderous, dishonest tenants.

There is a parallel with God the Father sending His Prophets to help people, only to see the Prophets killed, and finally sending Jesus, His Son, Who likewise will be killed.  There also is a warning, that the Father will bring justice against those who do the killing.

The owner of the vineyard develops it and leases it to tenants, inviting them to participate in its growth and harvesting. But when he later attempts to collect his share of the vineyard’s produce, the tenants beat and eventually start killing the owner’s servants.  In the end, the owner sends his son, and the tenants kill the son.  Jesus promises that the owner will come, reclaim the vineyard, kill the evil tenants, and give it to others.

Some of those listening, instead of learning and repenting, start plotting to have Jesus arrested.

‘A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenant farmers ….
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants
to obtain from them some of the produce …
* * *
So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed.
He had one other to send, a beloved son.
He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But those tenants …
* * *
… seized him and killed him …

Jesus has entered Jerusalem at this point, and will soon enter His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

After the parable, Jesus quotes a psalm passage that is fulfilled in Himself.

This passage also will later be quoted by Peter, after Pentecost, when Peter sets out to Proclaim the Gospel, explaining to all who Jesus Is.

‘… “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes” …’

 

FIRST READING

FIRST READING: Tobit 1:3; 2:1A-8

Tobit recounts how, when sitting down to a fine meal while exiled in Nineveh, he sends his son Tobiah out to find a poor kinsman, loyal to God, to come join them.

I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life
on the paths of truth and righteousness.
I performed many charitable works …
* * *
… a fine dinner was prepared for me …
* * *
I said to my son Tobiah: “My son,
go out and try to find a poor man
from among our kinsmen exiled here in Nineveh.
If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you…

Instead, Tobiah discovers the body of a kinsman murdered in the public marketplace. So he carries out one of the corporal works of mercy, burial of the dead. However, Tobit already has earned the wrath of the pagan rulers for burying the dead, including those who are the victims of the murderous pagan rulers.

Tobiah …
… returned he exclaimed …
‘Father, one of our people has been murdered!
His body lies in the market place …’
I …
… carried the dead man from the street
and put him in one of the rooms,
so that I might bury him after sunset.
* * *
… at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him.

The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another:
‘He is still not afraid! …

While an Old Testament figure, Tobit provides an example of Christian charity, and respect for the dead.

He also stands as a model of someone who persists in doing what is right, even when at the risk of persecution and death at the hands of evildoers.

More Resources

Leave a Reply