杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

In Sunday鈥檚 Gospel, the parable of the wicked tenants shows us how 鈥渦ngrateful and greedy thoughts insinuated themselves into the minds of the tenants, who imagined 鈥渢he product of our work belongs to us alone鈥�.

Instead of caring for the garden and sharing the harvest with the landowner, they sought to keep everything for themselves, mistreated the master鈥檚 servants, and ultimately killed his son.

Ingratitude leads to violence

Reflecting on this parable, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that the tenants 鈥渟hould have been grateful for what they received and for how they had been treated. Instead, ingratitude gives rise to greed and a progressive sense of rebellion grew within them, leading them to see the situation in a distorted way, to feel that the owner was in their debt rather than that they were in debt to the owner who had given them work.鈥�

And thus, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渇rom being tenants, they become assassins.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to explain that, in this parable, Jesus reminds us what happens when a person deceives him or herself into thinking he or she does things on their own and forgets to be grateful鈥︹�� This attitude, he said, can lead to dissatisfaction, misunderstandings, resentment, and ultimately violence. 鈥淵es, dear brothers and sisters,鈥� he said, 鈥渦ngratefulness generates violence... while a simple 鈥楾hank you鈥� can bring back peace!鈥�

Learning to say 'Thank you'

The Holy Father invited us to ask ourselves if we recognize that life and faith, our very selves, and everything we have 鈥渃omes from the grace of the Lord鈥︹��; and if, in response to grace, we 鈥渒now how to say 鈥楾hank you鈥�?鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his Angelus reflection with the prayer that the Blessed Virgin Mary, 鈥渨hose soul glorifies the Lord,鈥� might 鈥渉elp us to make gratitude the light that dawns daily in our hearts.鈥�