Jealousy spurs the brothers of Joseph to plan his death. They see that their father has a deep love for Joseph. Perhaps they are afraid that their father now has less love for them. Perhaps they are frustrated because their father did not give them gifts. In any case, they decide to kill an innocent man.

There is a striking similarity with today's Gospel parable. The vineyard tenants choose to kill the son of the landowner. The character of the son is Jesus' poignant description of himself. Jesus is the innocent man who will soon become a victim of violence.

Yet the power of God is mysterious. We know that this is not the end of Joseph. He will suffer much but, eventually, rise to a commanding position in Egypt and save his family from famine. There is more. Although Jesus is the stone which the Jewish leaders reject and kill, God makes Jesus the very cornerstone of salvation.

Suffering is bitter and often intensely painful. In God's hands, however, pain can be transformed. It can lead to life. God has brought life from death. Christ invites each one of us to taste this new life even now.