Letters From Home

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

The house of Israel is the vine of God, who planted and watered it, preparing the Israelites to bear fruits of righteousness (see Isaiah 5:7; 27:2–5).

Israel failed to yield good fruits, and the Lord allowed His vineyard, Israel’s kingdom, to be overrun by conquerors (see Psalm 80:9–20). But God promised that one day He would replant His vineyard and its shoots would blossom to the ends of the earth (see Amos 9:15; Hosea 14:5–10).

This is the biblical backdrop to Jesus’ parable of salvation history in today’s Gospel. The landowner is God. The vineyard is the kingdom. The workers hired at dawn are the Israelites, to whom He first offered His covenant. Those hired later in the day are the Gentiles, the non-Israelites, who, until the coming of Christ, were strangers to the covenants of promise (see Ephesians 2:11–13). In the Lord’s great generosity, the same wages, the same blessings promised to the first-called, the Israelites, will be paid to those called last, the rest of the nations.

This provokes grumbling in today’s parable. Doesn’t the complaint of those first laborers sound like that of the older brother in Jesus’ prodigal son parable (see Luke 15:29–30)? God’s ways, however, are far from our ways, as we hear in today’s First Reading. And today’s readings should caution us against the temptation to resent God’s lavish mercy.

Like the Gentiles, many will be allowed to enter the kingdom late—after having spent most of their days idling in sin.

But even these can call upon Him and find Him near, as we sing in today’s Pslam. We should rejoice that God has compassion on all whom He has created. This should console us, too, especially if we have loved ones who remain far from the vineyard.

Our task is to continue laboring in His vineyard. As Paul says in today’s Epistle, let us conduct ourselves worthily, struggling to bring all men and women to the praise of His name.

Lecturas:
Isaías 55, 6-9
Salmo 145, 2-3.8-9.17-18
Filipenses 1, 20-24.27
Mateo 20,1-16

La casa de Israel es la viña de Dios que Él plantó y regó, preparando a los israelitas para dar frutos de justicia (cf. Is 5,7; 27,2-5).

Israel no produjo frutos buenos y el Señor permitió que su viña, el reino de Israel, fuera invadida por conquistadores (cf. Sal 80, 9-20). Pero Dios prometió que un día replantaría su viña y sus brotes florecerían hasta los confines de la tierra (cf. Am 9,15; Os 14, 5-10).

Esto es el trasfondo bíblico de la parábola de Jesús sobre la historia de la salvación que presenta el Evangelio de hoy. Dios es el dueño. La viña es el reino. Los trabajadores contratados al amanecer son los israelitas, los primeros a quienes Él ofreció su alianza. Los que son contratados después son los gentiles, los no israelitas, quienes hasta la venida de Cristo eran extraños a las alianzas y promesas (cf. Ef 2,11-13). En la gran misericordia de Dios, el mismo sueldo, las mismas bendiciones prometidas a los primeros llamados -los israelitas- serán pagados a los que fueron llamados por último, al resto de las naciones.

Estas palabras provocan murmuraciones en la parábola de hoy. Las quejas de esos primeros trabajadores, ¿no suenan acaso como las del hermano mayor de la parábola del hijo pródigo? (cf. Lc 15,29-30). Los caminos de Dios, sin embargo, están lejos de los nuestros, como escuchamos en la primera lectura de hoy. Y las lecturas de hoy deberían prevenirnos contra la tentación de renegar de la generosa misericordia divina.

Como los gentiles, muchos serán admitidos al final para entrar en el reino, luego de pasar la mayoría de sus días holgazaneando en el pecado.

Pero incluso estos pueden acudir a Él y encontrarlo cerca, como cantamos en el salmo de este día. Debemos regocijarnos de que Dios tenga compasión hacia todos los que ha creado. Eso nos debería consolar, especialmente si somos de los que permanecen lejos de la viña.

Nuestra tarea consiste en seguir trabajando en su viña. Como San Pablo dice en la epístola de hoy, conduzcámonos dignamente luchando para que todo hombre y mujer alabe su Nombre.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Pio of Pietrelcina, Priest Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Timothy 6: 13-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 100: 1b-2, 3, 4, 5
Alleluia: Luke 8: 15
Gospel: Luke 8: 4-15

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Timothy 6: 2c-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 49: 6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25
Gospel: Luke 8: 1-3

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Feast of St. Matthew by Ms. Joan Watson.

Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist Feast First Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-7, 11-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 2-3, 4-5
Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions by Dr. John Bergsma.

Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, Martyr, Paul Chong Hasang, Catechist, Martyr, & Companions, Martyrs Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Timothy 3: 14-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 111: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Alleluia: John 6: 63c, 68c
Gospel: Luke 7: 31-35

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Ordinary Weekday/ Januarius, Bishop, Martyr First Reading: First Timothy 3: 1-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 101: 1b-2ab, 2cd-3ab, 5, 6
Alleluia: Luke 7: 16
Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Timothy 2: 1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 28: 2, 7, 8-9
Alleluia: John 3: 16
Gospel: Luke 7: 1-10

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Mercy and forgiveness should be at the heart of the Christian life.

Yet, as today’s First Reading wisely reminds us, often we cherish our wrath, nourish our anger, refuse mercy to those who have done us wrong. Jesus, too, strikes close to home in today’s Gospel with His realistic portrayal of the wicked servant who won’t forgive a fellow servant’s debt, even though his own slate has just been wiped clean by their master.

It can’t be this way in the kingdom, the Church. In the Old Testament, seven is frequently a number associated with mercy and the forgiveness of sins. The just man sins seven times daily; there is a sevenfold sprinking of blood for atonement of sins (see Proverbs 24:6; Leviticus 16). But Jesus tells Peter today that we must forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times. That means: every time.

We are to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful (see Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48). But why? Why does Jesus repeatedly warn that we can’t expect forgiveness for our trespasses unless we’re willing to forgive others their trespasses against us?

Because, as Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle, we are the Lord’s. Each of us has been purchased by the blood of Christ shed for us on the Cross (see Revelation 5:9). As we sing in today’s Psalm, though we deserved to die for our sins, He doesn’t deal with us according to our crimes. The mercy and forgiveness we show to others should be the heartfelt expression of our gratitude for the mercy and forgiveness shown to us.

This is why we should remember our last days, set our enmities aside, and stop judging others. We know that one day we will stand before the judgment seat and give account for what we’ve done with the new life given to us by Christ (see Romans 14:10, 12).

So we forgive each other from the heart, overlook each other’s faults, and await the crown of His kindness and compassion.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Cornelius, Pope, Martyr, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Timothy 1: 15-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 113: 1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7
Alleluia: John 14: 23
Gospel: Luke 6: 43-49

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com