Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Unfortunately, there are times in conversation when we have said too much. The prudent thing would be to stop talking, but in an attempt to save face or try and gain the upper hand again by getting in the last word, we keep talking. Even though, both the Pharisees and Sadducees are trying to gain the upper hand by their way with words, they become silent in the presence of Truth itself.

This week, evaluate how you have conversation with others. Are you simply listening waiting to speak, or are you hearing the other person?  Let us continue to learn what it means to love the Lord our God, with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself. 

Scripture Reading for October 29, 2023

Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51 
Thessalonians 1:5-10
Matthew 22:34-40

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Give to God what is God’s.” The question for us is, “What is God’s?” The answer for each of us depends upon what we believe and why we believe it. We are told that we live in a world come of age: intellectually and scientifically. But there is something deeply disturbing about this. Theorizing can be one of the most subtle and effective ways of escaping confrontation with God down at the deeper levels of our being.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisee's question in today's Gospel is similar to the question regarding which commandment in the Jewish law is the greatest; Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. Even though civilizations, governments, and cultures come and go, the commandment to love God and neighbor never changes. Jesus is not interested in status or political correctness, but the dignity of every human person. 

Scripture Reading for October 22, 2023

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
Matthew 22:15-21

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Receiving an invitation for a special event or gathering is a great feeling. Not only do we feel honored, but celebrating with family and friends is what makes life enjoyable. Today, Jesus tells a parable to the chief priests and elders of the people about a wedding feast. Rich food and drink will be provided!

Unfortunately, the invited guests not only reject the invitation, but either return to servile work, ignore the invitation, or kill the messengers who gave them the invitation. Please remember there is a difference between coming to God as we are and meeting God on our own terms. As the Gospel continues, both good and bad alike gathered at the wedding feast. 

God's invitation to join Him in prayer, the sacraments, and works of service are part of God's grace wanting to work and change our lives. Choose today to respond to the Lord's invitation and join Him at the Supper of the Lamb.

Scripture Reading for October 15, 2023

Isaiah 25:6-10
Psalm 23:1-6
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Mt 22:1-14  

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Both the prophet Isaiah and our Gospel writer speak about tending the vineyard. God has built and planted it with loving care. The Lord has put it in the right place and the right time, he sends the rains and loves his creation. He tills the land and plants the finest seeds. The Lord entrusts this vineyard to men and women. 

Unfortunately, the vineyard does not turn out well. As intentions go from due diligence, laziness,  indifference, and eventually to contempt. Thus, the vineyard does not produce fruit. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone rejected by the builder, which if Christians do not follow in His footsteps, the kingdom of God will be taken away and given to a people that will produce its fruit. 

Scripture Reading for October 8, 2023
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20 (Isaiah 5:7)
Philippians 4:6-9
Matthew 21:33-43 

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The son's responses to their father's request for them to work in the vineyard is a subtle reminder of our wavering hearts. One son said yes but later did not go and the other son said no initially, but later went to work in his father's vineyard. Jesus' teaching is not only intended to challenge the chief priests and elders of the people, His teaching is intended to challenge us as well: let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.

Scripture Reading for October 1, 2023
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-9
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

 

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The parables of Jesus were intended to shock his audience regarding the kingdom of God. Jesus presented his listeners with incredible images of divine love such as a father running out to welcome back the spendthrift black sheep. Yes, it’s one thing to forgive an errant son, it is a another matter to give twelve hours’ worth of wages to someone who worked four hours, or two hours, or one hour. But as God says through the prophet Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways.” God sees, thinks, and acts differently. Thus Jesus’ goal... get us angry, get us thinking, we become grateful, and then we are moved to imitate God's generosity. 

Scripture Readings for September 24, 2023

Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Philippians 1:20-24, 27
Matthew 20:1-16

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel from both last Sunday and today speak to us about the importance of forgiveness. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus offered a process for being reconciled with a brother or sister who sins against us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to Peter’s question about how often we must forgive a brother or sister who sins against us by telling the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. 

Peter thought he was being generous in suggesting that we forgive someone as many as seven times! Jesus responds with seventy-seven times as a way to illustrate that there is no limit to the amount of forgiveness we are called to extend to one another. We are called to forgive as God has forgiven us, unconditionally and without limit. 

Scripture Reading for September 17, 2023

Sirach 27:30—28:7
Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
Romans 14:7-9
Matthew 18:21-35 

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we hear the word “prophet” in everyday life, we typically think of a person who has some insight into the future, who can predict what will be; perhaps, even, a fortune teller of sorts. God tells Ezekiel in our first reading to continue to be a prophet, even when the people are no longer in exile. Even more, God tells him that the fate of the people lies in Ezekiel’s to continue to care and watch over them. 

As Christians, as members of Christ’s Body, we are called to continue the legacy of such a prophet as Ezekiel, to be prophets in our own day and to persevere in that call. We are called to be people who speak the truth, the truth that is Christ Jesus himself. It is a truth that is not always easy to speak. As St. Matthew reminds us in the Gospel, it is a truth that sometimes calls us to task and to mutual accountability.

Scripture Readings for September 10, 2023
Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Romans13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our second reading from St. Paul in his letter to the Romans cautions us amid the noise of every day living, "do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, pleasing, and perfect."

Yes, listening to the will of God is difficult. So too is doing God's will, but much is at stake. St. Matthew reminds us, "what profit would there be to gain the whole world and forfeit your life?" God's grace is sufficient such that St. Paul boasted in his weaknesses that the power of Christ may reign in his life! It is important to take some time in prayer and silence to reflect upon where God is inviting you to renew your mind.

Scripture Readings for September 3, 2023
Jeremiah 20:7-9
Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Matthew 16:21-27

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus' question, "who do you say that I am," was raised squarely in personal terms. This question to his disciples must have taken them by surprise because it brought out directness and suspense as a moment of truth between friends.

Peter's response was rewarded with the promise of a new covenant. God willing, we shall rejoice in that we were not silent as well, but said something with our lives and the "shouts of our hearts." We hope, in the end, the Lord himself will be our reward. 

Scripture Reading for August 27, 2023

Isaiah 22:19-23
Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8
Romans 11:33-36
Matthew 16:13-20