21st Sunday - C (August 21, 2022)

God’s Guests

Luke 13: 22-30

“People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south

and will recline at table in the kingdom of God,”

 

Do I accept God’s openness, or do I have my own standards of who should be in and who should be out? Meanwhile, it’s not my kingdom. It’s God’s.

 

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21st Sunday - B (August 22, 2021)

 

“We have come to believe”

John 6: 60-69

 

Like Peter, we believe that Jesus has the words of eternal life. 

 

At the same time, Peter’s words “We have come to believe” remind us that faith is a journey.  Like Peter and the rest of the Twelve, there are times our faith is strong, other times, we falter. 

 

To grow in faith, we must give Jesus time to speak to us.  We must give him space to speak to us in our hearts.  We must give ourselves time to listen to Jesus in prayer and silence, and to read and reflect on his words in Scriptures.

 

In the age of explosion of information, with smart phones, social media, text message, etc., we probably need to be even more intentional in this important aspect of our communication with Jesus so as to live by his words of eternal life.  

 

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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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21st Sunday - C (August 25, 2019)

The Narrow Gate

Luke 13: 22-30

Jesus continues “making his way to Jerusalem” – to the cross. 

Christian discipleship, which is our following of Jesus, always involves the cross.  That is “the narrow gate.”

Christian discipleship is not about connections or even membership.   It is not enough to claim “We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.” 

Jesus surely teaches.  But do I listen? 

Christian discipleship involves listening to Jesus and living his way.  Yet so often, Jesus’ way contradicts our political, cultural, economic, and societal values.  There, the narrow gate!  

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21st Sunday - B (August 26, 2018)

“We Have Come to Believe”

John 6:60-69

“You have the words of eternal life.”  “You are the Holy One of God.”

Those are affirmative statements of faith that Peter professes.  They are even more significant considering that “many of Jesus’ disciples” now walk away from him.

Peter and the rest of the Twelve could not have just profess such faith in Jesus on the spot.  It is the result of a process.  Peter says, “We have come to believe and are convinced.”

Faith is first and foremost a gift from God.  However, Peter and his friends “have come to believe” in Jesus because they have been with him, listened to him, and shared life with him.

Only by spending time with Jesus can we come to believe and are convinced that he has the words of eternal life and that he is the Holy One of God.  

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21st Sunday - A (August 27, 2017)

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Matthew 16:13-20

Commentary

Who Do You Say that I Am?

In the first question, Jesus asks the disciples for people’s opinion about him.

In the second question, Jesus asks the disciples for their own opinion about him. 

In response, Peter, in the name of the group, professes that Jesus is “the Son of the living God.” 

This is not the first time they acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.  The group did it once after Jesus calmed to storm (Matthew 14:33).  They were then identified as “those who were in the boat.”   

Now, Peter is the first person identified by name to profess this faith in Jesus.  [1] 

It is not enough knowing what people say about Jesus.  It is not enough to know the faith of a group, even though it is essential to share the faith of the Church community.  After all, each of us has received the gift of faith and its knowledge through the Church. 

Yet, faith must be both communal and personal.  It must be both my faith and our faith.

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[1]  John Petty.  www.progressiveinvolvement.com

21st Sunday - C (August 21, 2016)

Luke 13: 22-30

Commentary

People will come to the Kingdom of God

This passage from Luke’s Gospel follows two parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.  Both are small things in appearance but both have the capacity of making a big difference and even a great impact.

Each follower of Christ – when we are true to our identity – can be like the mustard seed and the yeast.  In our own situation, we can and are called to transform our world.

This mission has its scope in the words of Jesus that we listen to today, "people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God."

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, we are called to live and spread God’s Kingdom of Mercy by our works of mercy. 

Moreover, the Year of Mercy ends on the Feast of Christ the King can be seen as both a conviction and a statement of faith.  We profess that the Kingdom of God’s Mercy is already among us.  Yet, we are called to build that Kingdom until the whole creation has embraced God’s Mercy.

That is the extent of our mission. We, God’s mustard seeds and yeast, have the mission of bringing “people from the east and the west and from the north and the south to recline at table the kingdom of God.”

21st Sunday - B

Commentary

John 6: 60-69

The Words of Eternal Life

For five weeks now we have listened to almost the whole Chapter 6 from the Gospel According to John.

The disciples have been present since the beginning of this chapter. Each of them must have had his own beginning in his following of Jesus. Nevertheless, they all have witnessed the power of Jesus as he multiplied the five loaves and two fish to feed the five thousand people. They also saw him walking on the sea (though we did not listen to this portion of Chapter 6).

Many may have followed Jesus because they have seen the signs he performed. But in John's understanding, the faith based on seeing signs is weak and superficial.

Earlier in this chapter, it was the crowd, then “the Jews” (referring to those Jews who opposed Jesus) who had a hard time accepting Jesus' words.

Now, it is some of the disciples who find Jesus' saying “hard,” and they no longer accompany him.

Peter and the Twelve, on the contrary, recognize Jesus' words are “the words of eternal life.”

These opposite reactions to Jesus' words bring us back to the words in the Prologue of John's Gospel, “to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (1:12)

21st Sunday - B (August 23, 2015)

Readings

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21st Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 16: 13-20

Listening and Observing

A review of the most recent Sunday Gospel passages might give us some background in understanding today’s passage.  For three weeks, we heard Jesus teaching the mysteries of God’s Kingdom through parables (15^th, 16^th, and 17^th Sundays).  The next three weeks, Jesus revealed the presence of God’s Kingdom and power through miracles and healing (18^th, 19^th, and 20^th Sundays).

The disciples were present in the audience listening to the parables.  They were also present or even took part in the miracles (feeding the people). 

Now, Jesus asks them, “Who do you say that I am?”

Jesus is among us.  He continues to reveal God’s Kingdom to us through his teachings and his actions.

And the same question continues to be presented to each one of us today.  

I can answer that question only if I listen to the voice of Jesus and observing his actions in the events of my life.  If either part is missing, I might not get the full picture of who he is.

21st Sunday - A (August 24, 2014)

Readings

21st Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 13: 22-30

Jesus – a Man on a Mission

In the Gospel According to Luke, the turning point in the life and ministry of Jesus takes place in chapter 9, verse 51. 

Before that, his ministry took place in Galilee. 

Then in 9:51, came “the days for his being taken up” and “he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.”

From then on, we find Jesus on his way to Jerusalem to fulfill the mission the Father has sent him.

And today, in 13:22, we learn that “Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.

Jesus came to proclaim the Good News of God’s salvation.  That was his mission.  At all times, in all places, in whatever circumstances, to whomever, he would carry out that mission. 

Persecution, opposition, and even the cross, which he knows awaits him, could not deter him from that mission.

21st Sunday - C (August 25, 2013)

Readings

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