The Rejected Cornerstone

On this Wednesday in Holy Week, we hear from the Gospel according to Mark where Jesus foreshadows the events later in the week:

 

Then he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watch-tower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes?’” (Mk. 12:1-11).

 

The owner of the vineyard is God, the vineyard is Israel, the slaves who come on the owner’s behalf are the prophets and the son is Jesus.  Nevertheless, we can apply that very same parable to our own lives.  God sends us people to show us the way, but we reject them out of hand not wanting to see the truth.  God has sent Jesus not only to show us the way but to be the way, and yet we manage to disregard what he has to say to us and what he has to show us. In short, you and I reject Jesus. Yet, Jesus is persistent; he comes after us time and time again to offer us life.  It is indeed amazing in our eyes.

 

Let us pray: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THE BIG BBQ IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER—SATURDAY, 3 MAY!  Tell all of your friends and neighbors about it—spread the word!  This year we will have 8 pit masters including our own Neil “Bigmista” Strawder.

 

Wednesday at 6 PM at Trinity, we will have the final installment in our Lenten Series, Nic at Night, with the Rev. Michael Chalk. 

 

Seaside Seniors at 11 AM on Thursday in Sutton Hall.

 

Holy Week & Easter Schedule:

 

         Maundy Thursday at 7 PM, foot washing, Eucharist and the stripping of the altar.

 

         Good Friday at noon, traditional service.

 

         Easter at 9 AM, festival Eucharist followed with Easter Egg Hunt and Pot luck lunch.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski, Vicar

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550