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| "Saint Boniface" by Cornelis Bloemaert, c. 1630 |
on the paths of truth and righteousness.
I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people
who had been deported with me to
a fine dinner was prepared for me, and I reclined to eat.
The table was set for me,
and when many different dishes were placed before 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
If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you,
so that he can share this meal with me.
Indeed, son, I shall wait for you to come back."
When he returned he exclaimed, "Father!"
I said to him, "What is it, son?"
He answered, "Father, one of our people has been murdered!
His body lies in the market place where he was just strangled!"
I sprang to my feet, leaving the dinner untouched;
and I carried the dead man from the street
and put him in one of the rooms,
so that I might bury him after sunset.
Returning to my own quarters, I washed myself
and ate my food in sorrow.
I was reminded of the oracle
pronounced by the prophet Amos against
and all your songs into lamentation."
Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him.
"He is still not afraid!
Once before he was hunted down for execution
because of this very thing;
yet now that he has scarcely escaped,
here he is again burying the dead!"
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Commentary on Tb 1:3; 2:1a-8
This section of the Book of Tobit introduces us to some of the main characters in the story and sets up the trials of the author. In this passage we hear that the festival Pentecost (the Hebrew festival of weeks, not the Christian solemnity) is taking place. The virtues of the author in almsgiving and charity are described. Tobit is held up as a strict follower of Mosaic Law during this time when a majority of the faithful are lapsing. The second part of the selection speaks about the murder of one of the people and subsequent acts set the stage for fulfillment of earlier prophecies and further events in the story the prophet tells. The fact that the Jews abandoned their dead shows how far the faith had degraded. In burying his dead compatriot, Tobit attempts to capture the spirit of the law and reverse this trend. It is dangerous for him to do so.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
His generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 112:1b-2, 3b-4, 5-6
In this section of Psalm 112 the virtues of faithfully following God’s commandments are extolled. This hymn of David exalts the person who follows the law of God. A number of actions associated with this faithfulness are presented including acts of generosity, mercy, charity, and honesty. The virtues of faithfully following God’s commandments are extolled. The one who follows the Lord will be upheld by God “in everlasting remembrance.”
Gospel: Mark 12:1-12
and the elders in parables.
"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 and left on a journey.
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants
to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.
But they seized him, beat him,
and sent him away empty-handed.
Again he sent them another servant.
And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.
He sent yet another whom they killed.
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 said to one another, 'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'
So they seized him and killed him,
and threw him out of the vineyard.
What then will the owner of the vineyard do?
He will come, put the tenants to death,
and give the vineyard to others.
Have you not read this Scripture passage:
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?"
for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.
So they left him and went away.
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Commentary on Mk 12:1-12
In the first part of the Gospel, we hear the parable of the vineyard. Since this story is directed to the chief priests and scribes, we see that the vineyard represents the kingdom of God and the tenants the Sanhedrin. They should have been working on behalf of God but instead misused their power and disregarded the prophets, killing some, beating others. And when the son of the owner comes and is killed, Jesus prophesies his own death.
The final section of the reading uses the image found in Psalm 118; 23-24, “the stone rejected.” Jesus uses this Scripture quote to drive home his point that the Sanhedrin had completely missed God’s intent and that the one they rejected, Jesus himself, the Messiah, was to be the cornerstone of the new Jerusalem, God’s kingdom on earth and in heaven.
Reflection:
The parable of the vineyard has as much validity today as it did in the day of Jesus, although for a different reason. In Jesus' day, when he first told this story, it was so that the Jewish leadership could realize the error of their understanding. They had a history of not seeing messengers from God and even attacking them because their message was frequently calling them away from self-serving ideals to a higher level of faith and love for God. As Jesus predicted in his parable, they rejected the Messiah and killed him as well.
[1] The picture used is "Saint Boniface" by Cornelis Bloemaert, c. 1630.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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