One evening, an elderly
man told his grandson, "I want you to have something."
Reaching into his desk, he pulled out a gleaming gold pocket watch, engraved
with his initials. "I'm not always going to be around, so take this to
remember me."
The boy took it, said, "Thanks,
Grandpa!" and ran home. Sadly, he didn't understand how valuable this
gift was, and sold it a few days later to buy his favorite computer game.
We could never think of
treating a precious gift like this—but what about our faith? That's the point
behind today's Gospel reading. The Pharisees were entrusted with the priceless
gift of God's law. But many of them didn't value this gift. Instead of leading
Israel to righteousness, they used the Law to promote themselves and their
positions of power. So, when Jesus came, they had no room in their hearts for
his message.
Jesus gave us something
very special—his own life, planted deep in our hearts. He wants us to embrace
that life so that we can bear fruit for his kingdom. But like the owner of the
vineyard, he won't force himself on us. He leaves it up to us to choose if we will
nurture our faith or trade it for something else.
Most of us don't decide
one day that we're not going to follow Jesus anymore. It's usually in the
simple decisions of our lives that we grow closer to him or move further away.
Today, look for chances to be a disciple. Take time to pray in the morning,
help someone when you'd rather be doing something else, or simply smile when
you're upset. These are God's ways of giving you another chance to grow closer
to him—and to bear fruit that reveals his glory.
Let us pray. Heavenly
Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless all
children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so
that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom,
and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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