Today’s readings are intertwined through the theme of betrayal. In the first reading, Joseph is sold by his brothers to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver (Gen 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28). In the Gospel, the tenants in Jesus’s parable kill the landowner’s servants to keep their produce; then, they kill his son to steal his inheritance (Mt 21:33-34, 45-46).
As a professional procrastinator, I’ve mastered the art of chasing short-term pleasure. Sometimes, at the end of a day, when I’ve taken my procrastination too far and remember that my English essay—one I haven't even started—is due the next day, I feel a deep stab of regret in my heart. In that moment, I realize that all the time I wasted was not worth it. It's an intimate betrayal of oneself.
As the second oldest of twelve children, I believe I also understand some of the dynamics of Joseph’s family. I know from firsthand experience how frustrating it can be when one sibling receives more attention from my parents. Now, I may not be selling my siblings into slavery because of it, but I'd be lying if I said I didn’t often try to diminish their situations or overshadow them to gain my parents’ attention. Later, I’d regret betraying and temporarily tainting my relationship with a sibling for a couple of minutes of fame. Again, not worth it.
In today’s readings, I primarily see two of the seven deadly sins: greed and envy. These two are often intertwined—greed for personal fortune or pleasure can lead to envy when someone else possesses that fortune or pleasure. We see that Joseph’s siblings envy him because of their desire to be the most loved. The tenants are driven by greed to kill the landowner’s servants and seek the son’s inheritance, but they may have also been envious—disregarding the son’s human dignity over mere wealth. These vices fuel betrayal, making it crucial for us to combat them.
When battling envy and greed, one of the best things we can do is take a step back. So often, we get caught up in what's right in front of us and fail to consider the bigger picture. What are the long-term consequences of both this situation and my subsequent action? For Joseph’s siblings, taking a step back would have helped them see that Joseph’s happiness was a good thing and that being selfless in this scenario would have allowed them to imitate the character of Jesus Christ. After the landowner parable, Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is taken away from those who do not produce fruit and given to those who do.
In the midst of this Lent, I encourage everyone to take a step back and reflect on life’s core goals. Let us look each other in the eyes and remember that every human being has infinite dignity. We are each called to be with God in Heaven, and the best thing we can do is help others get there too.
