23rd Sunday - A (September 6, 2020)

 

When We Sin

Matthew 18: 15-20

 

The verb used for “to sin” in Matthew 18: 15 is a Greek verb that “came originally from the world of archery and means "missing the mark." [1]   It also means “to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor,” or “to wander from the law of God.” [2]

 

When we sin, we miss the mark.  We fail to be the people God creates [1] and calls to be.

 

Correction in the community, according to the way of Jesus, is an act of charity.  Its purpose is to help the community members to become who God calls us to be – “perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5: 48) 

 

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[1] https://www.progressiveinvolvement.com

[2] https://www.blueletterbible.org

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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.

 

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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. 

 

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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. 

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17th Sunday - A (July 26, 2020)

Treasure and Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:44-52

Three weeks ago, on the 14^th Sunday, we heard Jesus giving praise to God who “have revealed to little ones” out of God’s “gracious will.”

Today, we hear again in St. Paul’s testimony that God has chosen us to be God’s children (2^nd Reading).

God is the merchant who searches for us because for God, we are the treasures and the pearls of great price.  The parable of a merchant selling all that he has to buy a pearl or a field with a treasure might sound ridiculous.  But still, that is merely a symbol of God’s love.  This love is so great, beyond our comprehension, that God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, died the death of a slave on the cross for us sinners.   

Thus, in the Easter Proclamation, the Church professes, “to ransom a slave you gave away your Son.”

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16th Sunday - A (July 19, 2020)

Kindness

Matthew 13:24-43

Good seed, children of the kingdom, smallest, bear fruit (Gospel), lenient, clemency, kind (First Reading).  

These keywords from the readings of this Sunday remind us of the way God deals with us and the way we are called to imitate. 

There are times when things may not appear that way.  Our sins, darkness, and evil can appear loud, powerful and overwhelming. 

Still, the goodness of God is already in us and all around us.  Jesus calls us, “children of the kingdom” (Gospel).  St. Paul assures us, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness” (Second Reading).   The writer the Book of Wisdom professes God’s patience to us sinners, “[giving] your children good ground for hope, [and permitting] repentance for their sins” (First Reading).

That is the way of our God who is “master of might” and “over all things.”  This God also teaches “that those who are just must be kind” (First Reading).