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TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our gospel from Matthew this Sunday, Jesus shares the parable of the landowner and tenants, once again, taking aim at the chief priests and elders for the complacent manner in which they practice their faith. The landowner leases his vineyard to the tenants with the expectation that the tenants will turn over the produce from the vineyard to his servants at harvest time. However, the tenants decide to keep the produce for themselves and beat and kill the landowner’s servants when they come to collect the harvest. Finally, the landowner sends his son to them expecting that they will respect him, but he is treated in the same manner. It is easy to identify ourselves in this parable. We are tenants, cultivating our portion of God’s vineyard here on earth. When the harvest time comes, we will be judged by the good fruit that we produce. This gospel challenges us to show gratitude to God, our landowner, for the gifts we have been given by using them in service to one another, by nurturing our prayer life and by building up the kingdom of God on earth. |
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TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our Gospel from Matthew, we have the parable of the father and his two sons. The father asks the two sons to go out and work in the vineyard. The first son refuses his father’s request initially, but then goes out and does as his father has asked. The second son agrees to his father’s request, but in the end doesn’t follow through. We can likely relate well to both brothers as there are probably times when we have walked in their shoes. People make requests of us all the time. Some are valid and some not. At times we may agree to do something in order to avoid any unpleasantries, but in the end don’t do it at all or do so begrudgingly. Jesus points out that there must be a connection between what we say and what we do. His message to the religious leaders also applies to each of us. As baptized followers of Christ, there must be good intent behind any commitments that we make, not just to one another, but to God as well. |
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TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our Gospel from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the divine mercy of God through the parable of the vineyard workers. The just vineyard owner hires workers several times over the course of the day. At the end of the day, he instructs his foreman to pay all the workers the same wage regardless of the amount of work or the time they have spent working thus ensuring that each has received enough to support themselves and their families. However, this doesn’t sit well with the workers who put in long hours and feel that they are more deserving than those who had started working later in the day. This story likely hits home for many of us. We live in a society where we work for a wage that we consider just and expect to be paid fairly for the work that we do. We resist sharing our hard-earned wealth and resources with those who do not work to earn theirs. In the first reading from Isaiah, we are reminded that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways. God’s mercy opens the doors to the kingdom of heaven to all of us. As followers of Christ, we are called to set aside the ways of this world, and live out the gospel, by thinking and acting in a manner that reflects the generosity and mercy of God. |
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TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our Gospel from Matthew, Peter comes to Jesus with a question about forgiveness asking how many times we must forgive someone who has intentionally hurt or harmed us. He suggests seven times to Jesus thinking that this is a reasonable number. But Jesus responds, “not seven times, but seventy-seven times” suggesting that forgiveness is intended to be limitless. In other words, as followers of Christ, we are not in a position to judge another person’s worthiness when it comes to forgiveness. We are simply expected to grant forgiveness without exception. This is often easier said than done. Sometimes the hurt runs deep and we hold on to grudges, resentment and the transgressions that we have suffered at the hands of others. Through the parable of the unrepentant servant, Jesus teaches us that God’s mercy and compassion are abundant. Having received this abundant gift, we are called to forgive others without limit in the same way that we have been forgiven. Today, let us take to heart the words of the Lord’s Prayer “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” and ask God to grant us the desire to forgive the people in our lives who have wronged us. |
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TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our gospel from Matthew, Jesus provides us with some basic instructions when it comes to conflict resolution within the community of believers. He tells us that most importantly we must try to work out our disagreements with the other person in a private setting that allows them to maintain a sense of dignity and respect. Only if we cannot reach agreement should we try to illicit help from others in the community. If in the end we still cannot come to terms with those who have wronged us, while unfortunate, it may be best to separate ourselves from the relationship. As a community of believers, we must realize that none of us is perfect. We are human beings. We have faults, we trip up, we fail and we sin. The important thing is that we make the effort to correct our behaviour, forgive when called upon and do our best to be reconciled to one another. This isn’t always easy, but if we follow the example Christ has set for us, we can work together to maintain a community of harmony and unity where Christ’s presence is truly felt by all who gather in His name. |