Monday, June 1, 2020 - Ninth week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 12, 1-12 - Jesus Christ, faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, you love us, and by your blood you deliver us from sin.

The teaching of Jesus is addressed mainly to priests, scribes and elders. He will transmit the message with a parable. Not that He doesn't dare to speak directly, but parables are a way for the teacher to communicate. Therefore, even though they already know the law and understand the word of God, they are attracted to it because they have a master before them.

So what does Jesus' teaching mean here?

A landlord, renting out his land, but at the time of the grape harvest, the tenants did not give the landlord's share but they also injured and killed those sent to take that share. As a result, the landlord evicted them from his land because they had broken the agreement by breach of trust. Already we are warned against perjury and deceit, because the one we have offended will erase us from his life.

But, if we were to go further in the interpretation of Scripture, then in ancient times there were only two religious categories: Jewish and pagan. God's plan of salvation is primarily for the Jews; not out of discrimination but out of priority. Since the Jews did not accept this established order and were relegated to the benefit of other nations, Scripture says, "The owner will destroy the farmers,

and will give the vine to others". In other words, God will create a new people who believe in His Name. This new people is us Christians. It was only then that the people before Jesus realized that they were the targets of these words of Jesus, because they did not believe in his teachings, and we had already heard that they were looking for a way to stop Jesus and kill him.

What can we learn from this?

• Firstly, we have our share of grace and a special place in God, but when we do not deny it, it is transferred to others. In the Church, we have our place but when we are not present, others take it; we have our share of fellowship: when we are not there, others take advantage of it; we have a role to play, others do it when you do not.
• Secondly, let us be attentive when someone speaks to us, perhaps because it is a teaching that we are not aware of.
• Third, let us face the truth in order to grow spiritually. Those before Jesus, stepped aside. They regressed instead of progressing.