27th Sunday - C (October 2, 2022)

 

Gratefulness

Luke 17: 5-10

 

Beginning with our life breath, everything we have and are come from God, as God’s gifts of love to us.   

 

Therefore, we should never think that by doing good, we can earn God’s love, or that God owes us some rewards.  Nor should we think that by living a moral life and practicing charity, we earn our way to heaven. 

 

The right attitude is that we should strive to live according to God’s law of love as our expression of gratitude to God.  And in so doing, we become witnesses and instruments of God’s love in the world.  

 

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27th Sunday - B (October 3, 2021)

 

“From the Beginning”

Mark 10: 2-16

 

Our lives have challenges and difficulties.  At times, we say, “It’s not supposed to be like this.”

 

So does Jesus.

 

He affirms us the goodness of the original plan that God has for God’s children and for all creation, “from the beginning.”

 

We must be realistic as we live the realities of daily life, with its blessings and challenges.  At the same time, let us not forget God’s plan “from the beginning.”  Let us keep striving for the fulfilment of God’s plan for each of us and for all of God’s creation.  

Image source: www.agnusday.org 

27th Sunday - A (October 4, 2020)

God’s Patience

Matthew 21: 33-43

 

“The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.”  These words from the Prophet Isaiah (first reading and the response) provides the background for Jesus’ use of the vineyard image in the Gospel parable.

 

The Lord also treats the Church, the new Israel, as His vineyard.

 

So does God treat each of God’s children. 

 

Think of God’s patience and repeated efforts to care for the vineyard, each one of us, and to enable us to bear fruits.

 

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27th Sunday - C (October 6, 2019)

Our Vocation, Our Mission, Our Privilege

Luke 17: 5-10

In this Gospel passage, Jesus speaks of commands.  The question is then, “What has Jesus commanded us?”

At the end of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus commands the disciples to be witnesses of his life, crucifixion, and resurrection. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus commands his followers “to love one another as I have loved you.”

We should treat these commands as privileges.  Jesus does not treat us as servants.  We, sinners, have been given the privilege of being witnesses and bearers of God’s love and salvation.   

  

27th Sunday - B (October 7, 2018)

Gratitude

Mark 10: 2-16

Jesus tells us to “accept the kingdom of God like a child.” 

Children depends on their parents for everything.  So do we on God. 

As we get older, naturally, we can, and we need to do more things for ourselves.  But we then run the risk of thinking that we are in charge, and that we do not need God.

Everything comes from God, beginning with our very existence.

 

Image source:  Charles Lock Eastlake - Christ Blessing Little Children, 1839,
commons.wikimedia.org

 

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

27th Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 17:5-10

“Lord, Increase Our Faith”

In Chapter 16 of his gospel, Luke records a number of challenging teachings from Jesus.   He warns the Pharisees for putting their reputation and human esteem before God.  He affirms the validity of the law, that ““It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter of the law to become invalid.”  He assures the validity of marriage and equates divorce and remarriage with adultery.  He also teaches the two parables of the cunning steward and the rich man and Lazarus, which we listened to these past two Sundays. 

Then, Chapter 17 begins with Jesus’ condemnation of those who “cause one of the little ones to sin.”  He also demands that his followers forgive one another even to seven times a day.

After hearing all these challenging and demanding teachings, the Apostles implore the Lord, “Increase our faith.” [1]

The way of Jesus is not easy.

Have I come to realize that I cannot follow the way of Jesus by my own efforts? 

Think of the time in your life that, like the Apostles, you felt the need to ask God to increase your faith. 

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

27th Sunday - C (October 2, 2016)

Readings

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27th Sunday - B

Commentary

Mark 10: 2-16

“From the Beginning of Creation”

The setting of a Scripture passage can be a good tool for its understanding. The events in this passage of Mark 10: 2-16, as well as the conversations and Jesus' teachings we will hear next Sunday, take place as Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem.

In the passage, Jesus brings up God's plan “from the beginning of creation.” The plan of God's love and goodness gives the guidelines and standards for human relationships and the order of all creation.

Our lives may not always reflect that plan, as a result of sins. So is the reality of our world.

Jesus is now on the way to Jerusalem. There, by his passion, crucifixion and resurrection, he will restore the original plan of God. Moreover, all creation is redeemed by his blood. We are no longer just God's creation. We are now God's children, brothers and sisters of Christ (2^nd Reading, Hebrew 2:11)

Though we are not there yet, we know and believe that the fullness of God's Kingdom is the true fulfillment of God's plan of love. There, we will be with God forever.

Thus, Pope Francis reminded us, “Our life is not a pointless wandering. We have a sure goal: the house of the Father.” [1]

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[1] Twitter, Pontifex, October 1, 2015.

27th Sunday - B (October 4, 2015)

Readings

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27th Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 21: 33 – 43

The Vineyard Entrusted to Me

The landowner first “planted a vineyard.”  Next, he “put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.”  In other words, he took good care of his vineyard.  Only then did “he [lease] it to tenants.”

(Today’s first reading from Isaiah 5 has even a more detailed description of God’s care for the vineyard).

With such great care, God prepares the vineyard that would be entrusted to me.

The vineyard can be (or includes) my own wellbeing, both in this world and in the next, and the people God puts in my life – family members, friends, co-workers, …

Besides, God sends help and reminders (the servants and His Son) to assist me in caring for the vineyard.

How do I take care of the well-planted vineyard that God has entrusted to me?

27th Sunday - A (October 5, 2014)

Readings

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27th Sunday - C

Commentary

Luke 17: 5-10

Why the request “Increase Our Faith”?

We are now in Chapter 17 of the Gospel According to Luke. 

The disciples have been with Jesus for some time.  They have witnessed Jesus' power in his preaching and healing.  They themselves have been commissioned by Jesus to go out and “proclaim the Kingdom of God” (9:1-2).  The witnessed the power of Jesus at work through them as they experienced that “even the demons were subject to [them] because of [Jesus’] name” (10:17).

At the same time, Jesus has told them what awaits him in Jerusalem, as well as what would cost them if they want to be his disciples.  They have met people who allowed various reasons prevent them from following Jesus.

They themselves have faltered (particularly reported in Chapter 9).

It seems that the disciples have now come to realize their strengths and limitations, measured against the demands of being a disciple.

But more, they now learn that there is another aspect of being a disciple of Jesus.   Jesus commands them that “if [your brother] wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive them” (17:4).

That is then “the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’” (17:5).

Looking at the context, the following parable of the servant and the master can remind us the source of strength that supports the disciples in living Jesus’ demand. 

We can only follow Jesus as his disciples, especially in imitating his example of love and mercy, when we recognize how good God is to us. 

Unthinkable as it may seem, it is God, the master of the universe, who sits us at his table and shares with us the gift of divine life.  [1]

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[1] Pope Benedict XVI, in his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei convoking the Year of Faith affirms God’s gift of faith as the gift that leads us to share God’s life in these words, “The ‘door of faith’ (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering an entry into his Church.” (Porta Fidei, #1)

27th Sunday - C (October 6, 2013)

Readings

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