Theme: Do we recognize the authority of Jesus in our lives?
Scripture reading: Gen. 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28; Ps. 104:16-21; Mt. 21:33-43, 45-46
In the first reading, we read about Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph was most loved. Because he was born in his old age. Jacob had stitched a colorful robe for him. Along with this, Joseph had shared his dreams to his brothers. In the first dream, he explained, ‘we were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.’ His brothers became indignant to him. They said, ‘do you intend to reign over us? Do you think you will actually rule over us?’ He had another dream. He said, ‘I had another dream and this time the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me’. When he told this to his father. His father rebuked him. (Gen. 37:1-11) For these reasons, the brothers hated Joseph. They plotted against him. First, they thought of killing him, then they threw him into the dry well. At last, sold him in Egypt for twenty pieces of silver. Joseph was treated very badly because his brothers were not ready to accept the authority of Joseph in their lives.
There was someone else stronger than Joseph who came to rule over our lives, was also treated similarly. We hear in the Gospel today about the story of the landowner and the wicked servants. Matthew situated this parable in the context of refusal of Jesus’ power. The chief priests and the elders of the people questioned Jesus as he was teaching. They said, ‘by what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus trapped them by requestioning by what authority John was giving the baptism. They chose to answer him ‘ we do not know’. On this occasion, Jesus gave them three parables; the parable of the two sons, the parable of the wicked tenants and the parable of great supper. They were all related to the refusal of authority. When they heard Jesus, they had realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him and kill him.
We are also governed by the authority of Jesus. How often do we question Jesus for not giving us what we wanted? How often do we question Jesus’ authority in our lives? What are those reasons? God has definite plans to put us under the authority such as Joseph was asked to be the head so that he could take of his brothers in their dire needs. Jesus was asked to have authority over our lives so that we might be saved. May this season of Lent help us to accept the authority of Jesus, the authority of our parents, the authority of our priests in the matters related to faith and morals in our lives that we may fulfil God’s plan in our lives.
