Monday 18 April 2016

18/4/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Greedy Tenants (Lk 20 : 9-16)

18/4/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Greedy Tenants (Lk 20 : 9-16)

The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

Dear Jesus, My Risen Lord,
The vineyard you have entrusted with me is my life and all those who come into my life, especially those significant ones.
Thank You, and the Father and the Spirit for the gift of life you have rented me out.
You have entrusted me with my life:
To tend it,
To cultivate it, and
To take care of it,
So that my life may keep producing good harvest.

Dear Jesus, My Risen Lord,
There are times when I did work hard and taken care of those given to me and I have produce good harvest.
There are also times when I have failed and failed miserably.
Very often I have conducted my life as if I own it and am accountable to none.
You know it, Don’t You, Lord?
I have often been greedy as well as arrogant and tended the vineyard of my life in very irresponsible ways.
And as a result:
As a priest:
I have done harm to many entering the vineyard of my life regardless of their dignity and my integrity.
As a priest:
I have used them, misused their love and have abused their trust  for my personal gains and for my selfish satisfactions.

Dear Jesus, the Risen Lord,
You have entrusted the vineyard of my life with for the seventy or so years!
You have been forgiving me and have been patient with me all along.
Thank you, Jesus, My Risen Lord!
A million thanks!
I want to pay extra care and attention to tend the vineyard of life for the remaining years!
I want to keep producing a better harvest bring much joy to you and to myself.

Dear Jesus, My Risen Lord,
I bring before you:
Everyone of my loved ones.
Everyone of my enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Joachenmonologues@gmail.com
Monday, 18th April 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling….
I am a near seventy year old Pallottine priest from India. I consider myself to be a "prodigal priest in process," trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of the Heavenly Father guided by His Son and the Holy Spirit, aided by the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, and inspired by Thomas the Apostle and by Vincenzo Pallotti, "the apostle of Rome." Despite my academic studies in Indian Philosophy (India), Sacred Scriptures(Rome), Psychology (USA) and Teaching and Parish Ministries at home and abroad, I have yet to do a lot more and work on myself much more for my spiritual growth and personal maturity. As I lag behind, I strongly feel the urge and need to grow spiritually and wholistically. I need to start almost every day anew. I keep on counting the innumerable blessings which the Lord keeps showering on me for the last near seventy years and I keep on recounting my manifold sins and failures with a contrite heart.Trying out a semi-secluded way of life, I find myself perched on a Hilltop Shrine. Dear Reader, I keep holding you in my daily prayers and request you to do the same for me.Thank you!

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