28th Sunday - A (October 14, 2017)

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Matthew 22: 1-14

The Wedding Feast for the King’s Son

Imagine myself as one of the guests in the parable.  I am invited – by the king, to “the wedding feast for his son.” 

Would I say no?

It’s unthinkable to say no to a king.  Period. 

And for such an occasion – the wedding feast for the king’s son, certainly it is a privilege of the few to be invited.

And when I am invited, how would I get ready for it?  With what attitude and excitement would I find myself going into the feast?

Today, God invites me to such a feast – the Eucharist.

Does this parable challenge me to evaluate how I approach the wedding feast of the Lamb of God?

 

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27th Sunday - A (October 8, 2017)

Matthew 21: 33-43

To Produce Fruits

This is the third vineyard parable that we listen to consecutively. 

For the first vineyard parable, we reflected on the privilege of working in God’s vineyard.  It is the vineyard owner himself who continues to invite us, “Go into my vineyard.”

The second parable affirmed the dignity that God has given to us.  We are no longer hired laborers, but children and heirs.  Our inheritance is the vineyard, given to us by God our Father. 

And today’s parable reminds us that the vineyard does not belong to us.  God, in God’s generosity, has given it to us as our inheritance.  It is indeed a privilege to work in God’s vineyard. 

This privilege comes with a responsibility, “to produce fruits.”

Image source:  https://en.wikipedia.org

26th Sunday - A (October 1, 2017)

Matthew 21: 28 – 32

Commentary

“Son”

Last week’s parable was the story of some laborers hired by the landowner to work in his vineyard.  This week, the landowner asks his own sons to go to his vineyard.

In the 2^nd reading for this Sunday, St. Paul reminds us of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ who “emptied himself,” became one with us, and by his death of the cross, made us children of God.

Do we see ourselves as hired laborers or God’s children who God offers a share of the Kingdom?

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org 

 

25th Sunday - A (September 24, 2017)

Matthew 20: 1-16

“Go into my vineyard”

The owner of the vineyard offers the same invitation to five group of laborers. 

It is the same invitation for those who are ready to work “at dawn.”  It is the same invitation for those who are “standing idle in the market place” at 9 o’clock, those who were there at noon, and at 3 o’clock.  And finally, with the same words, he invites those who have been “standing idle all day.”

All are invited to labor in the vineyard.

At what hour in my journey of life does God invite me?  More importantly, it does not matter what type of laborer I am.  What matter is that it is God who offers me the invitation, “Go into my vineyard.”

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org 

 

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.   

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org

23rd Sunday - A (September 10, 2017)

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Matthew 18: 15-20

Commentary

Missing the Mark

The word Matthew uses in this passage for sin (18:15) is “originally from the world of archery and means “missing the mark.” [1]

Looking at it this way, sin is what makes me less than the person God calls me to be.  And on the communal level, sins make us less than the people God calls us to be.

Self-examination and communal building must then be based on that question, “What makes me less than the person God calls me to be?”  And “What makes us less than the people God calls us to be?”  

And community life involves helping each other to become the people God calls us to be. 

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[1]  www.progressiveinvolvement.com
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22nd Sunday - A (September 3, 2017)

Matthew 16: 21-27

Conform

We probably don’t want to admit it, but we all conform to certain things, from trends, styles, fashions, to ways of thinking or acting. 

St. Paul urges his community then, and us today, “Do not yourselves conform to this age.”  On the contrary, we are to conform ourselves to Jesus Christ and his way of love. 

In order to conform ourselves to Jesus Christ, we must carry the cross and follow him.

It is probably true that most of us will not have to die for Christ as martyrs.  The question, as Matthew Kelly, the Catholic writer and speaker, asked, is whether we are living for Christ. 

In the daily carrying of our cross and in small acts of loving we live for Christ, and in this way, conform to him.  

Image source:  www.agnusday.org