The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Thus Jesus is presented in today’s gospel alluding Psalm 118, which praises and gives thanks to God for the many favors he has bestowed on the people.

Today’s readings provide us with two examples of tossed stones. The story of Joseph tells us about the one rejected by his brothers while in Jesus’ parable the tenants not only reject the owner of the vineyard’s representatives but finally murder his son so as to possess the inheritance.

Joseph’s brothers act out of jealousy. Joseph is the youngest, the baby and they don’t like that he gets all the attention, could he end up being the heir? From the brothers’ point of view, Joseph is a brat. He even gets a special coat from Dad which the brothers take as another annoying sign of favor.  So what to do with a pain in the neck little brother? Kill him? Throw him in a desert cistern? Sell him to the Ishmaelites!   

In the gospel, Jesus tells a parable about unruly tenants and a son sent by the owner of the vineyard and who is murdered by them. The reasons for his death are not that much different from Joseph’s disappearance. Jealousy and greed drive the tenants of the vineyard to murder and mayhem since they believe that they can then take possession of his inheritance. In this case the owner threatens to come back and set things straight.

In both stories, human brokenness, insecurity, fear, lack of trust, need and want, turn to hatred, greed and blindness to what is life giving. Sometimes the gift is seen as a problem, a stone to be tossed. And that may result in an aberration at best or a great evil at worst. But God can subvert all of this. Both rejected sons become cornerstones from which God brings forth life and salvation. Joseph who was given up to slavery later saves his people from starvation.  In the parable, Jesus declares that because of the murdered son of the owner, the mismanaged vineyard will be given to “people that will produce its fruit.”

For me these stories are reminders of God’s mercy and bountifulness. Even though we live our temporal lives in a broken world, are broken ourselves and witness the results of human sin, we can live with the hope and faith that God has not averted his gaze or become unaware of us. Rather  right at the moment of terrible defeat, sadness and even at times degradation God is already planning the foundation of what is life-giving, enriching and nourishing to our thriving. This can be only ascertained with the eyes of faith. … and it is wonderful in our eyes!