“Come, let us kill him”

These words are spoken in both of today’s readings: in the story of Joseph and his brothers (Gen 37) and the parable of the vineyard (Matt 21).

These stories are harsh reminders of the ferocity of the opposition we may experience as people of faith in this world.

People of faith have confident assurance of things unseen and unacknowledged by the world. The world resents this confidence: this confidence in truth, this confidence in a salvation that the world cannot overcome or grasp.

It is good for us to remember the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 16:33b):

In the world
ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.