Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
Many of the stories that we read in the Book of Genesis are what Scripture scholars call "proleptic." If you are unfamiliar with this word, it describes a figure of speech whereby a future event is anticipated. Thus the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah anticipates God's willingness to sacrifice his own son for our sake. The story of Joseph and his brothers which we read today anticipates the plot to betray Jesus to the Roman authorities for thirty pieces of silver.
We also read the parable of the tenant farmers who plot to kill the vineyard owner's son so that they can inherit the vineyard when the owner dies.
In both instances, jealousy and a sense of entitlement lead these people – Joseph's brothers and the tenant farmers – to commit murder. I am sure that most of us never contemplated killing another human being out of jealousy or envy. Yet the stories speak to our own desire for "more." We never have enough. When we see someone who has been blessed with talents that we don't possess, we want more. When we notice that our neighbors have a more luxurious home or car, we want more. When we notice that a co-worker is promoted ahead of us, we want more. We never have enough. Joseph's brothers were jealous of the affection that their father showed their younger brother. They falsely reasoned that if Joseph were dead, their father would love them more. The tenant farmers falsely reasoned that if the vineyard owner's son were to die, the owner would turn his estate over to them.
The truth is there is more than enough of God's love, God's compassion, God's concern to go around. God cannot love us more. However, the converse is not true. We could love God more than we do. Lent is a time to ask ourselves, "What more could I do to express my love for God?" Each person's answer will be different, but the answer is only discerned if we ask the question in the first place.