In our Gospel reading today from Mark 12, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard and has tenants care for it. The man sends servants to obtain some of the produce. The tenants beat him and threw him out. The man sends more servants. They beat and even kill them. So the man sends his son. But they kill him, too. The chief priests, the scribes and the elders all realize that Jesus is addressing the parable to them. Funny…so many of Jesus’ parables and teachings seem to be aimed directly at me. Ever get that feeling yourself?
In our first reading from 2 Peter 1, St. Peter talks about the promises of God, saying, “so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” Sharing in the divine nature. What does that really mean? I think it means getting to heaven! We know that when we get to heaven, we will become one with God. We will not become God or a God. But we will be all-encompassed in Him, for He is love.
But how do we go about this? Well, it all starts with faith in Christ Jesus. But St. Peter gives us some great advice in today’s reading. “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.” Sounds like a plan! So…how well are we following that plan?
Father, our greatest desire is heaven; to share in your divine nature. Give us greater faith, and the grace to follow St. Peter’s plan. Amen.
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