Friday of the Second Week of Lent ‘c’

Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Jesus made the chief priests and Pharisees very upset when He said: “I say to you,the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”  They all thought that just because they were Jews and they belonged to the chosen nation, they didn’t have to do much with their lives because they automatically would be saved. However, Jesus challenges them by saying that they must convert, they must not only preach the law but follow the law, and they must believe in the Son of God. It is the same with us today. It is not enough to say and think that because we were baptized and we go to church and receive the sacraments, that this will be enough for us to go to Heaven. Jesus wants more from us, much more. He wants us to bear fruit, to bring into practice Jesus’ teaching, and to bring His love to others. Because, as He said, if you don’t produce fruit then “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”