Tuesday of Holy Week: The Rising Conflict

The five wise virgins remind us to be prepared. Are you ready for Easter?

On Monday of Holy Week Jesus made His authority very clear, not only over nature by cursing the fig tree, but over the Temple. Now on Tuesday, He returns with the apostles to the temple precincts and engages in teaching and dispute with the chief priests, pharisees, and elders. They demand to know by what authority He acts? He responds by asking them a question. "If you give me an answer, I will tell you on what authority I do the things I do. Tell me, was John's baptism of divine origin or merely from men?"

Meditation for Sunday: Are You a Fruitful Vineyard?

In the introduction to the Mass today in Magnificat, I read this:

The landowner who planted a vineyard presupposes that hired tenants can be trusted, that additional servants will be able to obtain his produce, and that, when all else fails, treacherous people will respect the sacrosanct relationship of father and son. In short the man is looking only for common decency. But in us even that fails. That is why Saint Paul pleads: "Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me." For at one time, he was like those murderous servants. But, converted to what is true, honorable, just, pure, and gracious, he proclaims that we are the cherished vineyard to whom the Father sends his Son.

It gave me an "aha" moment.