Grounded

June 3, Monday of the Ninth week in Ordinary time
Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs
Daily Readings: 2 Peter 1:2-7; Mark 12:1-12

God is so generous that he gave us a gift to share with the divine nature. His divine power has given us everything we need to live a holy life.

We should strive to enhance our faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, Christian affection, and love.

The Gospel is the parable of the tenants. The vineyard's owner went abroad and left it to the tenants. When harvest time arrived, he dispatched his servant to collect his share, but the tenants seized the servant, beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. He dispatched another servant, but the situation remained unchanged until he dispatched his son, assuming they would treat him with respect. However, they also seized the son, killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard.

In this parable, Jesus compares Israel's religious leaders to these tenants, warning them that they would lose God's kingdom. Instead of giving the agreed-upon share of the crops, the tenants seized and killed the servants the owner had sent, even killing the owner's son.

When God created the world, he entrusted it to mankind. He gave us the power of dominion to take care of things. Nowadays, hunger and abuse of power are rampant. Some people use their positions to mistreat and overpower those around them. Just like in the parable of the tenants, they become greedy and even commit a great sin.

Call to Action for Catholic Living: This Gospel serves as a reminder to respect and ground ourselves in all the opportunities that God has entrusted to us. We must nurture these opportunities, allow them to flourish, and share them, lest God reclaim them from us.

Lord, help us always to be grounded, bearing in mind that all these things come from you and are only entrusted to us. Amen.