22nd Sunday - A (August 30, 2020)

 

It Is Not Easy

Matthew 16: 21-27

 

It is easier to profess with our words who Jesus is.  That was what Peter did in last Sunday’s Gospel.  Peter acclaimed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

It is harder to accept that the Christ must “suffer greatly and be killed” by crucifixion.  That’s where Peter fails in today’s Gospel.

 

We know and believe that Jesus suffered and died on the cross to save us.  But it is not easy to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him.

 

Lord Jesus, give me strength to carry my cross and follow you, because that is the way you allow me to share in your mission of saving us and the whole world from sin and death.  

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org 

 

21st Sunday - A (August 23, 2020)

A Loaded Question

Matthew 16: 13-20

“Who do you say that I am?” 

Peter answered it then.  Each one of us still needs to answer it today. 

It’s not enough to know other people’s answers, even if they have the right answer.  Jesus reminds us that faith is a gift revealed by the heavenly Father.  And we need to embrace it.

The faith Peter professes is the faith of the Church.  The Church professes that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  This Son of God came to earth so that by his cross and resurrection, he has brought all people into the family of God, as God’s sons and daughters. 

If I accept this gift of faith from God, there are a number of consequent ramifications.  One, Jesus must be first in my life.  Two, I must treat other people as my brothers and sisters, children of the same heavenly Father.  

Let us today pray for Pope Francis, Peter's successor.

 

Image source:  www.wikimedia.org

20th Sunday - A (August 16, 2020)

 

“Send Her Away”

Matthew 15: 21-28

 

The disciples’ reaction to the woman asking Jesus for help is, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” 

 

Send her away for she is bothering us. 

 

Unfortunately, that kind of response to a person who is in need is not uncommon.

 

In the Gospel passage that we heard two Sundays ago, the disciples had the same reaction before Jesus fed the people.  They suggested that Jesus sent the people away.  “Dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

 

The disciples want to send people away, feeling they are being bothered.  

 

How often do I do the same?

 

Jesus, in spite of the apparently harsh words, responded to the woman’s request.  Moreover, he would lay down his life for all humanity. 

 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

18th Sunday - A (August 2, 2020)

“His Heart Was Moved with Pity”

Matthew 14: 13-21

 

“It’s not my problem.”   “I can’t help.”  Most, if not all of us, probably have either felt or responded in similar words when encountered a person in need, or a situation we wished we could do something to change or to improve it.   

 

The first response is about attitude.  The second is about ability or means.

 

The disciples in today’s Gospel had the same responses when they saw the hungry crowds.  Regarding their attitude, they first said to Jesus, “It’s not our problem.  Let’s send them away so ‘they can go and buy food for themselves.’”

 

But Jesus told them to give the people some food themselves.  They now responded, “We can’t help.”  They had five loaves and two fish.  Was the food what they brought for themselves and Jesus?  This was about their ability and means.  They said, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”

 

Jesus has the divine ability to feed the hungry crowds.  But first, his attitude.  “His heart was moved with pity” for the people. 

 

We have much to learn from Jesus and for Him to change us. 

Image source: www.agnusday.org