A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Friday of the second week in Lent.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of the stay to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over.

Become aware that he is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within your heart.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,

Chapter 21, verses 33 through 43 and 45 through 46.

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people,

Listen to another parable.

There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard.

He fenced it round, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.

Then he leased it to tenants and went abroad.

When vintage time drew near,

he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce.

But the tenants seized his servants,

thrashed one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Next, he sent more servants, this time a larger number,

and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. They will respect

my son, he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other,

this is the heir. Come on, let us kill him. but when the tenants saw the sun they said to each other,

This is the heir.

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