24th Sunday - C (September 11, 2022)

 

Drawing Near to Jesus

Luke 15: 1-32

 

Jesus’s reputation, his words, actions, attitude all proclaim the mercy of God.  Moreover, he brings God’s mercy to humanity.  Consequently, “Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.” 

 

Not only do tax collectors and sinners receive God’s mercy in Jesus, they feel drawn to Jesus, the incarnation of God’s mercy.  God’s mercy is consoling and attractive to sinners. 

 

St. Luke then continues, “But the Pharisees and scribes began to complain.” 

 

Luke Chapter 15 recalls Jesus’ three parables on God’s mercy.  However, this one introductory sentence is probably already inviting us to examine our own attitude toward God’s mercy.  Also, does it challenge me to ask if I put limits to God’s mercy on me and on those I might consider sinners?

 

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24th Sunday - B (September 12, 2021)

 

The Christ

Mark 8: 27-35

 

The Gospels of the previous two Sundays portrayed Jesus as an outstanding teacher and a powerful healer. 

 

First, Jesus’ outclassed the Pharisees and scribes in his teaching.  Then, his healing power made people “exceedingly astonished” that they acclaimed, “He has done all things well.  He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

 

Yet, today we learn that he’s more than an outstanding teacher or a powerful healer.  He is the Christ, God-anointed. 

 

As the Christ, he accepted rejection, his passion, and crucifixion to save humanity.  he is true to his identity.

 

He calls us to follow him. 

 

If we live our identity authentically, we must be like Christ.  We must take up our crosses and follow him.  Only then can we have life and become the instruments of Christ’s life in the world.  

 

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24th Sunday - A (September 13, 2020)

God’s Gift of Conscience

Matthew 18: 21-35

 

We have “in [our] hearts a law inscribed by God” [1] that is called conscience.  Thus, conscience is God’s gift to us. 

 

One of the gifts of a well-formed conscience is it helps us know our sins.  Knowing our sins could help us be more aware of our need for God’s forgiveness.

 

The awareness our need for God’s forgiveness should then lead us to greater gratitude to God and appreciation of God’s mercy.  (On the contrary, without the awareness of God’s boundless mercy, the awareness of sins alone can easily lead us to despair).

 

Appreciation of God’s mercy in turn could help us grow in our compassion with ourselves and with others. 

 

The first servant in today’s Gospel does not know the immensity of what he owes the king.  He even brags, “I will pay you back in full” although he has “no way of paying it back.”  He is clueless of either the size of the debt or his situation.  That is similar to the unawareness of one’s sins. 

 

Consequently, the servant has no appreciation for the king who was so “moved with compassion” for him that the king just “let him go and forgave him the loan.”

 

We know the rest of the story. 

 

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church #1776, quoted Gaudium et Spes 16, quoted Romans 2:15.

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24th Sunday - C (September 15, 2019)

Drawing Near to Listen to Jesus

Luke 15: 1-32

“Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus.”

They had discovered something in him – God’s mercy.

Often, we can be too proud and think we do not need God’s mercy.  Or we can fall to the temptation thinking that our sins are so bad that God won’t forgive us. 

In what way do I need to imitate those people and grow in my trust in God’s mercy?  

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24th Sunday - B (September 16, 2018)

“Who do You Say that I Am?”

Mark 8:27-35

When Peter, in the names of the disciples, identified Jesus as the Christ, “he warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Yet, Jesus “spoke openly” about his suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.

Jesus is not hiding his identity.  Nor is he afraid of people knowing about him. 

What important is the correct understanding of who Jesus is, the Jesus who accepts the cross and crucifixion out of love.  Peter and the disciples either do not have or are not ready for this understanding. 

Maybe it’s time to evaluate my own understanding of who Jesus is.  I need to ask Jesus for the wisdom to know him as he truly is, and not my misconceptions or my own projections about him.   

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24th Sunday - A (September 17, 2017)

Matthew 18: 21-35

“Fellow Servants”

Last Sunday, Jesus instructed us on reconciliation.  This week, we continue with Chapter 18 of Matthew.  And now, Jesus speaks of forgiveness.

There is no reconciliation without forgiveness.

And there is no forgiveness when I fail to recognize that the offender and I are both sinners, indebted to God.  This might be one way of applying the parable of the unforgiving servant.  The offender and I are both “fellow servants.”  We are both indebted to God, and have both received God’s forgiveness.   

Moreover, as St. Paul reminds us in today’s 2^nd reading, not only has God forgiven us, by Jesus’ death, God has given us life. 

When we forgive, we allow God’s mercy and generosity come to life in us.   

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24th Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 15: 1- 32

The Lost and The Seeker

In all three parables of this Gospel passage, those who are lost either do not seek their way back themselves (the sheep, the coin, and the older son) or go back for the wrong reason (the younger son).  

It is the seeker who makes the efforts and takes the initiative to search for and find the lost.

Isn't that the way God deals with us?

It is not because we search for God knowing that we are lost.  And even when we might reach out for God, it can be for the wrong and selfish reasons,  

But it is God who seeks out the lost because God is full of love and mercy.

24th Sunday - C (September 11, 2016)

Readings

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24th Sunday - B

Mark 8: 27-35

Commentary

Having the Right Answer. Is It Enough?

The Gospel readings selected for the previous two Sundays prepared us for today's passage.

Two weeks ago, Mark portrayed Jesus as the great preacher. He outsmarted the Pharisees and scribes who questioned him.

Last week, Mark showed us Jesus' power in his miracles. The witnesses acclaimed, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

By human standards, Jesus is now at the height of his success and popularity.

This explains why people think he might be John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.

Then the location where Jesus asks his disciples the question of who he is adds another twist to the conversation. This conversation takes place while they are on their way to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. The city was built by the ruler of the area to be his capital. He named it after Caesar Augustus, his political patron. But there was another city already named Caesarea. So to distinguish his new city, the ruler added a second name to it. And the ruler's name happened to be Philip. He in fact named the city after himself.

In the vicinity of this city of worldly political power and alliance, Jesus asks the disciples if they know who he is. Peter knows Jesus' title, “You are the Christ.” Yet, Peter does not understand what that means.

What is my answer if Jesus asks me today, “Who do you say that I am?” And do I know what my answer means? And am I ready for it?

24th Sunday - B (September 13, 2015)

Readings

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24th Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 15: 1-32

“My Son”

The younger son first wants to be away from his father.  He does not want to be a son.  He gives up his sonship for material possessions.

When he returns, he is willing to trade his sonship for food and becomes a hired worker.

To the father, however, no matter what the younger son has done, he is always a son. Speaking to the servants, who for sure know what the boy has done, the father refers to him as “this son of mine.”

Interestingly, the younger son still addresses his father as father.  Yet, in the parable, the father never speaks directly to him.

The older son, on the other hand, does not address the father as “father.”  He begins his complaint with the disrespectful command, “Look.”   And he sees himself as a slave in his own house. 

The father speaks directly to him, the son who is actually more distant from him than the younger brother.  And he begins with the endearing expression “my son.” [1]

In our relationship with God, at times, even often, we see ourselves as slaves, hired workers, or whatever else.  But with God, we are always “my child, my son, my daughter.” 

And isn’t Jesus telling those who question the mercy of God that the more distant we are from God, the dearer we are to the loving Father?

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[1] In the original Greek, the word used here is the endearing (“affectionate”) “τέκνον,” translated in the English version as “my son.”  In other places throughout the parable, when the word “son” appears, it is the generic noun “υἱὸς.” This word “υἱὸς” is used even when the younger son says to his father upon his return, “I no longer deserve to be called your son”  (verses 19 & 21). (http://www.newadvent.org/bible/luk015.htm; http://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/studyn/lent4cgn.html)