Friday, March 1, 2024

 Friday of the Second Week of Lent

 (Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

 Mark Twain secured fame as a humorist.  Few in his time or any could match his insight and wit.  However, he was no humanist. He did not believe that humans are basically decent.  Quite the contrary, he found them conniving for their own comfort of mind.  If all humans acted like Joseph’s brothers in the first reading or the tenants of today’s gospel parable, Twain’s view would be justified.

The brothers have no patience with Joseph, their father’s favorite son.  They universally dislike him although not all favor killing him.  In any case, they mean him harm when they sell him to the Ishmaelites.  The tenants of Jesus’ parable are even more reprehensible.  They kill the son of the landowner, who stands for the Son of God.  In strict justice, they deserve execution.

Despite frequent examples of hard-heartedness and full treachery, we know that the human heart is not completely corrupt.  In fact, humans can become merciful and loving.  For this reason we seek renewal in the season of Lent.  We endeavor to be like Christ.  He not only taught us to help others but also died to save us from death.