7th Sunday - C (February 24, 2019)

Way of Life of the Children of the Most High

Luke 6: 27-38

Luke continues his account of Jesus’ teaching of the new world order – the order of God’s world.

The one reason of this new world order is that we are “children of the Most High,” who “himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”

Moreover, Jesus is clear on who should follow his teaching: “you who hear.”

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33rd Sunday - A

30th Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 22:34-40

Love God First, or God Loves First

The order with which this Gospel passage is arranged for the Sunday Gospel might provide us one possible interpretation and lesson.

It is God who has given us all (last Sunday’s reminder of “giving to God what belongs to God.”).  Thus, even our ability to love comes from God. 

Consequently, when I love God, I just try to respond to the One who has loved me first, and without whom I would not even exist.

Then, I am called to love my neighbor, who like me, comes from God.  And like me, he belongs to God.  Moreover, I am called to see the neighbor as the gift of God’s love for me. 

In loving my neighbor, I again respond to God’s love with love.  

30th Sunday - A (October 26, 2014)

Readings

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(Note: the comic was inspired by Mark 12: 28-34, the parallel passage with this passage in Matthew 22: 34-40,).

28th Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 22: 1-14

God Gets in My Way

There are times when we allow our things get in God’s way.  The list includes our own plans and desires, sins, pride, things that we don’t want to let go, our lack of trust, etc.

However, can there be times when God gets in our way?

That might be one way of looking at the reaction of the first group of guests in this parable.  

Jesus identifies them as “the invited guests” who are now “summoned” to the feast when “everything is ready.” 

The description “invited guests” suggests that they have received an earlier invitation prior to this moment.  They knew about it.

But they already have their plans.

And now, God’s plan for them gets in their way.  We know how they react.   

Have I ever allowed such a situation to happen in my life?

28th Sunday - A (October 12, 2014)

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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Commentary

Matthew 21: 28-32

Freedom and True Love

The father, a figure of absolute authority in an ancient culture, only asks his sons to go and work in the vineyard.  He does not force them.

God gives us free will, and God allows us to freely choose how we would respond to God’s love. 

The father does not check on the son who said “yes,” to see if he keeps his words.

We know we do not always deserve the trust and respect God puts in us.  But God stills respect the freedom that God has given us. 

There, God does not impose on us God’s love with a kind of force obligation.   Rather, God offers us a constant invitation to grow in true love.

Lastly, we have Jesus, who is the exemplary Son of the Father.  By this time in Matthew’s narrative, Jesus has entered Jerusalem.  There, he would soon offer the supreme act of obedience and love to the Father: he freely chose to do the Father’s will by accepting the cross.  His whole life, in attitudes, words and action, is an act of love.

26th Sunday - A (September 28, 2014)

Readings

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25th Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 20: 1-16

“Am I not free to do what I please with my own?”

The landowner hires five groups of laborers.  Yet, it is only with the first group does he have an agreement with them about their wages. 

At the end of the workday, he pays them the agreed amount.

Jesus does not say anything about the attitude of all the laborers who were hired late in the day.

Only the first group complains.  It is probably understandable that they feel cheated.  But they receive the amount they have agreed with the landowner.

Jesus begins the parable with, “The kingdom of heaven is like.”

Membership in the kingdom is not something upon which we agreed with God.  God is not obliged to give it to us, as the landowner asks the first laborers, “Am I not free to do what I please with my own?”  

It is a grace, freely given.  Blessed are those who recognize God’s graciousness to us.

25th Sunday - A (September 21, 2014)

Readings

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Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Readings

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http://www.holycrosscatholic.org

23rd Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 18: 15-20

In My Name

There are two contexts we should take into consideration in reading this Gospel passage.

First, the context of the Sunday Gospels of Year A. This passage of Matthew 18: 15 – 20 follows what we heard a week ago from Matthew 16: 21-27. There, Jesus invited anyone who “wishes” to become his disciple “to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

And today, Jesus gives a concrete demand of how to put that instruction into practice, namely what to do when others sin against us.

Second, the context of Chapter 18 of Matthew. This passage is preceded by Jesus’ instruction on how to care for “the little ones who believe in [him].” The greatest crime occurs when scandals cause the loss of one of these little ones.

Next comes the parable of the good shepherd who goes searching for the lost sheep.  The parable ends with Jesus’ affirmation, “it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (v. 14)

And then, in today’s Gospel (verses 15-19) Jesus insists that efforts must be made to keep God’s children in God’s house.

Following this passage, Jesus teaches the seemingly impossible demand of forgiving one’s brother “seventy-seven times” (v. 21-22). Afterwards, Jesus expands on the reason for such a demand – God has forgiven us first to the greatest extent. He teaches this with the parable of a servant whose master forgives him a huge debt, yet he is unforgiving toward a fellow servant who owes him a tiny amount.

Jesus calls his followers to form and follow him carrying the cross to preserve the community of love and forgiveness where two or three are gathered in his name. Such a community witnesses to the presence of God among humanity. In this kind of a community, “There am I in the midst of them” (v. 20)

23rd Sunday - A (September 7, 2014)

Readings

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22nd Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 16: 21-27

What Messiah

Today’s Gospel passage follows immediately the passage we heard last Sunday.

In the full text, there is a transition phrase that is omitted here, which is “From that time on.”

 A small detail, perhaps. 

But we must not lose sight of the link that connects the two passages.

Peter and the other disciples professed their faith in Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16).  And it is their faith in a Messiah of their own definition. 

Now, Jesus tells them God’s definition of the Messiah. 

Don’t we often find ourselves like Peter, believe in and are ready to follow the Messiah who operates according to our agenda?

The invitation and challenge of discipleship is to follow the Messiah who operates according to God’s agenda.  

22nd Sunday - A (August 31, 2014)

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

20th Sunday - A

Commentary

Matthew 15: 21 – 28

“Great is Your Faith”

Last week (19^th Sunday), Jesus walked on the water and calmed the storm.  But at first, the disciples were “terrified” and “cried out in fear.”  They quickly forgot that it was Jesus who “made them get into the boat” and cross the sea.  Peter doubted even when he asked and Jesus told him to come, walking on the water.

The disciples could recognize Jesus as “the Son of God” only after they had seen his power.

Today, a gentile, the Canaanite woman, recognizes and professes Jesus as “Lord” and “Son of David.” 

Unlike the disciples, she has faith in Jesus and professes it even before Jesus heals her daughter.  She does not need or demand the Son of David to respond to her request as a condition of her faith.  Acknowledging him as Lord, and knowing who she is, she could beg him, “Have pity on me.”  Then again, “Lord, help me,” after having done him homage.  

Thus, Jesus commends, “O woman, great is your faith!”