Reflection: Mark 12:1-12

9th Week in Ordinary Time – Mark 12:1-12

Today’s Gospel reading is the story of a man who planted a vineyard and planted a hedge around it. He also dug a wine press and built a tower. This man must have lived in an area that was not safe! Why else would he plant a hedge around his vines and then build a tower? You only need a tower if you need protection or you desire a view of your surroundings.

Thinking that all was safe, this man leased his fields to tenant farmers and left on a journey. After several months, the owner sent a servant back to his vineyard. This servant was to obtain the owner’s share of the vineyard’s profits. However, the tenants severely beat the servant and sent him back to the owner, empty-handed! The owner decided to send a different servant to deal with his tenants. However, the tenants treated this man in the same manner. The owner was extremely frustrated and angry. The master sent several other servants but they all were killed by the tenants.

At this point, the owner did not know what to do. Eventually he decided to send his own son to deal with his tenants. His reasoning was that the tenants surely would respect his son. However, they did not. The tenants were thrilled that the owner had sent his son. They believed that if the son was dead, his inheritance would be theirs. So the tenants killed the owner’s son! In response to the loss of his beloved son, the father had all of the servants put to death!

Jesus then speaks of what will happen to “the Father’s Son,” the One who is “the stone that the builders rejected.” Jesus tells his listeners that the very same thing will happen to this Son. Jesus’ listeners were the scribes, the chief priests and the elders. Through this parable, Jesus is telling them that he realizes the path that is before him. He knows what his future holds! However, Jesus also tells the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees that His Father (the owner) will come and put the “tenants” to death for what they have done to his son!

I wonder how his listeners reacted to this parable? How do we respond to all the violence in our world? No matter where we live, we hear of horrific acts that are perpetrated on innocent people. Humankind has not advanced in the past centuries. Daily we hear stories of murder and abuse!

Do we contribute to the violence in our world in major or minor ways? Or do we consciously strive to create peace in our lives and in the lives of the people around us? I assume that most of us would never think of killing another person! However, do we periodically “abuse” another person by our words, actions or indifference? Today may we consciously open our hearts to God’s peace and love! And may we share this love and peace with every person we encounter today! Today and every day may we be women and men of love and peace. What a great gift to give to our world!