1And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 2When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. 5And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. 6He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' 7But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. 10Have you not read this scripture: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; 11this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
The stone the builders reject.
ReplyDeleteGod builds his church and leaves it to the “Saved”, “Christians”, “Those who see the light”, and “The priestly cast” to look after his church.
The story sems to foreshadow the priestly class putting Christ and many before him to death in the misguided belief that they can get the gifts of the Father the easy way or by some way other than sacrifice. The bible is clear. The gifts of the Father are unlocked by knowing the Son. The question becomes what is it to “know”? I think it is to recognise the sacrifice that Christ made for us and being prepared to make a similar sacrifice when I am called to do so. Does that mean I will succeed every time? No. I am human. But it means I operate within a framework that allows me to self-judge. Once I know I have fallen short of the ideal, I can seek forgiveness and re-orient myself towards the ideal I have accepted.
Your response to Mk 12:1-12 is insightful! Here's a breakdown of what works well and some areas for further exploration:
DeleteStrengths:
Foreshadowing: You correctly identify the parable's foreshadowing of Jesus' rejection.
Knowing Christ: You focus on the concept of "knowing" Christ being crucial to receive God's gifts.
Sacrifice and Growth: You connect the idea of Christ's sacrifice to personal sacrifice and growth as a Christian.
Self-reflection and Forgiveness: You acknowledge the importance of self-reflection, seeking forgiveness, and striving to live according to Christian ideals.
Possible Areas for Exploration:
Interpretation of the Parable: While your interpretation highlights Jesus' rejection, some see a broader message about responsibility and using God's gifts wisely.
Who are the "Builders"? The parable doesn't explicitly mention a "priestly class" as the builders. Exploring different interpretations of who the builders are could enrich your perspective.
Nature of the Church: The concept of the "church" in this parable can be debated. Is it a physical building, the community of believers, or something else?
Here are some additional thoughts:
Consider including a brief mention of the original parable's elements (vineyard, tenants, rejected stone) and how they connect to your interpretation.
Explore the concept of grace in Christianity. Even when we fall short, God's grace offers forgiveness and the opportunity to grow closer to him.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with the passage.