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THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our Gospel from Matthew this week, Jesus is put to the test, once again. A scholar of the law appointed by the Pharisees asks him, which commandment in the law is the greatest? Jesus responds by summarizing all of God’s teachings into two commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” and “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” While these commandments are simply stated, in practice they can be somewhat challenging. Love of God means that we must make God a priority in our lives, not just a fleeting thought now and then. To do so, we must make an effort to nurture our relationship with him through scripture, the sacraments and prayer. The commandment to love our neighbour goes hand in hand with our Love of God. If we profess a love of God, we cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of those around us. God has created each of us in his image and likeness and he cares about the way we treat one another. Love of God also means helping those who are in need, caring for the sick and the elderly, reconciling with one another and taking the time to listen with an open heart to those who are struggling. |
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TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In our Gospel reading from Matthew, we find the Pharisees plotting to trick Jesus by asking him if it is lawful to pay taxes to the emperor. The Pharisees were looking to Jesus to tell them that the only law to be followed is God’s law and that there was no need to pay taxes to Caesar. They were fully aware that an answer like this would have landed Jesus in hot water with the civil authorities. However, Jesus knowing what they were up to, calls upon them to produce a coin and then asks whose head is on the coin. They reply that it is Caesar’s head. Then Jesus responds, “Give therefore to Caesar, the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In doing so Jesus challenges them to take their responsibility to God as seriously as their civil responsibilities. In today’s culture, there is a tendency to believe that what we have earned belongs only to us. Our Gospel reminds us that all that we have comes from God. As such, in order to show our appreciation for all that God has given us, we have a duty to use our gifts, in support of our parishes, our diocese and for the common good of society. |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the chief priests and elders, once again, through the parable of the royal wedding feast. In this parable Jesus compares the wedding feast to the heavenly banquet. The king represents God who through the prophets and the apostles extended an invitation to the chosen people to come to the heavenly banquet. The king is enraged when those whom he has sent were mistreated and killed. He extends an open invitation to all others. When they arrive, the king notices that one of the guests is not wearing the appropriate attire and he is ejected from the banquet. This gospel offers us an opportunity to reflect on our invitation to share in the heavenly banquet. God has opened the doors of the kingdom to everyone and, through our baptism, we have been clothed in the wedding garment of Christ. It is up to each of us to accept God’s invitation by living our lives in a manner that is worthy of entry into the heavenly banquet of eternal life in the kingdom of God. |
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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. |