The Gospel of Doug: Lesson Nine

The Gospel at mass Sunday, was the story, where the owner of a vineyard sent his servants and they got beat up, and the owner sent his son, assuming his son would be respected but instead his son is killed because the renters want the vineyard. . .The priest talked of rejection in his sermon because the rest of the text, talked about Jesus being the cornerstone the builders rejected. I understand the Gospel was about rejection, but the thing that touched me, and made me want to write this week, is disrespect or the lack of respect in the parable. We know the vineyard was Israel, and the owner God, and Jesus was his son. But what hit home to me, in being presented with the gospel, was the lack of respect we show Jesus in our culture, at this place and time. We have turned His name, in to a cuss word, or word for surprise or even excitement. Don't know how many times I hear kids say His name that way, or see it on a video on the internet. Which brings me to another form of usage I find disrespectful, and that are these posts where you are supposed to stop scrolling and write something, to prove you had stopped, because Jesus is important you or you believe in Him. I might be wrong, but I do find that lacking respect for the person of Jesus. But I see disrespect every where, and maybe it is just me.  Jesus's life is disrespected by clergy, projecting Him as a free loving hippie, in love with everyone, expecting nothing and demanding nothing in return, Even many times if we have a relationship with Him the relationship with Him is even disrespectful. It seems we are always told to ask Him for help or whatever we need in our lives. But do we ever ask what we can do for Him. Jesus Christ expected and assumed we would be respectful enough to know about His life, and read scripture, and understand our duties in our relationship with Him.  Yet, we don't, we rely on others telling us what our relationship should be, and telling us, they know just how Jesus Christ thought or acted, even when what they are telling us, is in direct defiance of Scripture. You want to respect Jesus, then pray, not asking for anything, but thanking Him for what He has already given you. Ask Him into your life, not just your Sundays. And read scripture, and take ownership of your relationship with Jesus Christ. Understand what is expected of you in the relationship . .it is all there in scripture . .Let's try to quit disrespecting Jesus Christ, and God the Father, it is the least we can do, and ask forgiveness, every day, and every hour . . . .relying on His love . . . . .  amen.