1st Sunday of Advent - A

Commentary

Matthew 24: 37-44

Today is the Day of the Lord’s Coming

One of the lessons Jesus might be teaching us here is the importance of living life with a purpose or an orientation.  It can happen that we can go through life aimlessly.  How often do people do certain things just because “everybody else is doing it”?

That cannot be with the Christian life.

Moreover, for us, Jesus Christ is the orientation himself because he said, “I am the way.”

In this sense, when Jesus refers to the day when he comes, it is not just about a future event.  It is also about the present.  He is already here with us to show us the way. 

Thus, living life with a purpose and an orientation is about living with Jesus each moment of our lives. 

So, Isaiah invites us in the 1^st reading, “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.”  And Paul encourages us in the 2^nd reading, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”  

And if we live with him now, we will be ready for when he comes both now and in the future.

1st Sunday of Advent - A (November 27, 2016)

Readings

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Christ the King - C

Commentary

Luke 23:35-43

The King Who Saves Others

As Jesus is hung on the cross, three times, three different people/groups of people either tell Jesus to “save yourself” or expect him to save himself.

The three are the rulers, the soldiers, and one of the criminals.  They seem to be people who are familiar with this kind of expectation of any earthly king.

But this King’s mission is not to save himself.

In fact, from the very beginning, his identity as one who saves others was already given by the angel to Mary.  “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus” (Luke 1:31).  This identity is further clarified by Matthew, “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The one criminal knows and trusts in this King as one who has come to save people like him.

What is my view of this King?

Christ the King - C (November 20, 2016)

Readings

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33rd Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 21: 5-19

“Do Not Follow Them”

The people in this Gospel passage admire the temple's “costly stones and votive offerings.” Their admiration for the temple is limited to the external things.

Do they pay attention to the God who dwells in that temple?

So often, we allow ourselves to be caught up in the temporary and external things, even if they are good. We even put our hopes and trust in things that do not last for ever.

We also put our hopes and trust in people, who are like us, merely God's creatures. They are not the Creator or the Savior themselves.

As a result, we might fail to see the God who gives us all good things and all blessings out of love for us.

33rd Sunday - C (November 13, 2016)

Readings

Image Detail from the Arch of Titus showing the enslavement of the residents of Jerusalem.
Source:  http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com

32nd Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 20:27-38

The Resurrection Matters

The Sadducees “deny that there is a resurrection.” 

At the time of Jesus, the Sadducees happened to be the elite Temple leaders.  They in fact collaborated with the Roman occupiers to maintain the status quo.

Ironically, when the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70, the Sadducees were also annihilated and ceased to exist.   

When a person does not believe in the resurrection and eternal life, this earthly existence can lose its meaning and purpose. 

On the contrary, by now – Chapter 20 in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem.  In two chapters (by the end of Chapter 22), he would be arrested and crucified.  He died.  Then he was raised and became the source of resurrection for all humanity.

His whole earthly life and ministry is oriented towards this moment of his death and resurrection.  His life has a purpose.  He lives for God and others. 

It does matter on what and whom we build this earthly existence of ours.  

32nd Sunday - C (November 6, 2016)

Readings

Image source:  www.agnusday.org