MT 21:42
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures:
'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes'?
History may not precisely repeat, but it certainly rhymes. Peoples go from being destitute to being repentant, which leads to righteousness, which further leads to an age of prosperity. But that prosperity breeds an age of decadence, and again they find themselves destitute. It's a cycle we can see played out in our own lives.
As modern Americans, we've inherited a great deal of prosperity, yet the signs of decadence are all around us. While this last Christmas saw the biggest surge in holiday spending ever, it also saw multiple holiday specials that went out of their way to depict Jesus in an openly blasphemous manner. I found myself wondering how long it would be before the Lord "leases his vineyard to other tenants."
Christ promised to be with us for all time. However, that promise was given to the Church, not to any specific nation or tribe. It is good to appreciate this beautiful vineyard that the owner has entrusted us with, but we ought always to be wary that we don't value it more than the vineyard owner himself.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Donald Amodeo, Pastoral Year
Home parish: St Mary's Catholic Church
Did you know...
A seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Donald Amodeo is the author of the afterlife adventure Dead & Godless and is currently serving his pastoral year at St. Paul's Catholic Church in St. Pete.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here.
