Twenty-seventh Sunday of the Year: A: October 8, 2023

GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR THE WICKED AND THE UNFAITHFUL

First Reading: Isaiah 5: 1-7

Second Reading: Philippians 4: 6-9

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 33-44

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah compares Israel to a vineyard which fails to produce the desired fruits in spite of the vineyard owner's (the Lord God) much care and attention given to it. Sadly, it is destined to become wilderness. Like this vineyard, the Lord God takes much care of His chosen people with utmost diligence. Unfortunately, they produce evil fruits and as a consequence, the Lord God rejects them.

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Philippians. Paul gives examples of the fruits we should produce in the vineyard of the Lord. To enjoy the peace that God has promised in every situation in life, we need to turn to God in prayer of thanksgiving and petitions. 

The parable of the wicked tenants                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The unfaithfulness and the wickedness of the chosen people of God -Israel- is vividly described. The Jews not only rejected the commandments of God but they had the audacity of rejecting Jesus the Son of God. The vineyard owner entrusts his vineyard after equipping the vineyard with every available facilities- hedge, winepress and a tower - everything that would make their task easy and light. After handing over the vineyard to the tenants, the owner goes on a long journey. On his return, the season for the fruits arrives. The owner sends his servants to get his share of the produce. But the wicked men ill-treat them and send them back empty-handed. Finally he sends his beloved son, hoping that those men would respect him and send his share of produce. Instead, those wicked men kill the son and take possession of the vineyard. Finally, the owner of the vineyard has no option other than to drive those wicked men out of his vineyard and he gives the vineyard to other tenants. Although this parable is told about the unfaithfulness of Israel, it has deep significance in our lives too. In spite of God's great love and concern for each one of us, we have been often unfaithful and wicked in our relationship with God and with other humans. The following messages are implied in this parable. 1. The destructive effects of greed and resultant violence against the rights of other humans. 2. The vineyard is the image of God's people. The question we have to ask ourselves is: Are we good tenants or bad ones? 3. Everyone without exception is finally answerable to the owner(Heavenly Father). 

Twenty-sixth Sunday of the Year: A: October 1, 2023

DOING THE WILL OF GOD: NOT IN WORDS BUT IN DEEDS

First Reading: Ezekiel 18: 25-28

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 1-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 28-32

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel instructs the people of Israel and us that  we are responsible for our actions and that the Lord God rewards everyone according to his/her actions. The Lord God is always just. He punishes us if we do evil and rewards us when we turn away from evil and do good. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul instructs the Christian community at Philippi that Jesus humbled Himself and became human and died on the cross for the humankind. Like Jesus every follower of the Lord should do everything with humility and look for the good of others rather than that of one's own. He reminds us that self-seeking actions and rivalry have no place in the life of a Christian. Christ gave us an example of humility and we must imitate Him in our lives. 

The Parable of the two sons                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. It is the story of a father and his two sons. The context of this parable is that the chosen people of God at first said 'Yes' to the Covenant of God. But later, they turn away from following God and reject His commandments. They refuse to accept that Jesus comes from God the Father. Whereas, those who are not among the chosen race - the gentiles and sinners - accept Jesus as the Son of God. In the parable, the father asks both his sons - the elder and the younger- to go and work in the vineyard. The elder son initially says 'No' to the father but he later goes and does the work in the vineyard. The younger son initially says 'Yes" to the father but does not go and do the work in the vineyard. After narrating the parable, Jesus puts a question to His disciples. "Which of these two sons did the father's will?" The answer is obvious. The elder son. Hence Jesus explains to us the need to do the will of the heavenly Father not merely in words but it should be seen in our actions. This parable in some way has overtones about our own lives. We often make promises to God but forget to fulfill them and fail to do the will of God. It is interesting to observe that in the parable, the owner of the vineyard has some work to be done. He does not ask his servants or his hired workers to do that work. He personally asks his sons to do the work in the vineyard. So too, the heavenly Father invites each one of us, His sons and daughters to work in his vineyard. It is up to us to respond to His invitation.

"Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine, but to mold my will into His." - Timothy Keller   

Twenty-fifth Sunday of the Year: A: September 24, 2023

           THE VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY

First Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-9

Second Reading: Philippians 1: 20 and 24-27

Gospel Reading: Matthew 20: 1-16

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah urges the people of Israel to turn away from their evil and sinful ways and return to  the Lord God. He tells them and us that the Lord God's ways are not our ways. The Lord God in His infinite wisdom has His own way of dealing with us that may not be always to our liking. Often we try to shape the ways of the Lord God according to human understanding. It may not correspond to the way of the Lord God who deals with us in various ways.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul expresses his deep conviction that to live for Christ or to die for Christ is the same for him. His only ambition is to proclaim and glorify Christ at all times and be united with Him always. This conviction of Paul should rule the hearts of all who follow the Lord.

The last will be first and the first last                     (Reversal of values in the Kingdom of God)                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the vineyard owner and his generosity to the workers is narrated in detail. The owner of the vineyard gives a day's wages (one denarius) for everyone who worked in his vineyard that day, no matter whether the person worked just one hour (the one who came last) or the person who worked the whole day (one who came first). The owner's generosity makes those who worked the entire day dissatisfied and angry. The question put by the vineyard owner to the disgruntled workers is very relevant: "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?" The parable may seem quite strange and unjust for many of us. Some may even think that the vineyard owner is not understanding the feelings of those who toiled all day in the harsh sun. According to one Biblical scholar, the parable doesn't depict reckless, arbitrary action of the owner, rather, it shows the behaviour of a large-hearted man who is very compassionate, kind and full of sympathy for the poor and the deprived. It is out of pity for their poverty that the owner decided to give them a full day's wages. If not, their families would be starving that day. Through the parable, Jesus is expressing the unlimited goodness, compassion and graciousness of a kind and loving God and not about labour relationships. Often we grudge others who are in some way more favoured by God. Sometimes we are not willing to accept God's unlimited generosity and kindness. Hence, through the parable, Jesus gives us a lesson that it does not matter when we come to the Kingdom of God; early, middle or at the last hour. All that matters is that we are part of His Kingdom. 

"Generosity is giving more than what you can." - Khalil Gibran

"For it is in giving that we receive." _ St. Francis of Assisi

"Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone's day." - R.E. Goodrich

Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Year: A: September 17, 2023

         THE VIRTUE OF FORGIVENESS

First Reading: Sirach 27: 30 to 28: 7

Second Reading: Romans 14: 7-9

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 21-35

   *First reading is from the book of Sirach (Ecclesiastes). Our desire for revenge and vengeance is a human tendency. But our refusal to forgive those who do harm to us and hurt us is unacceptable in the eyes of the Lord God. Such an attitude makes us unworthy of the Lord God's forgiveness and mercy. We can experience the forgiveness  of the Lord God only to the extent we forgive those who do wrong to us. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul explains to the Christian community in Rome and to us that we live in union with the Lord Jesus so that we become precious in the eyes of God. Our living and our dying as Christians is for the Lord and for others. 

Not seven times but seventy times seven                                                          Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus graphically explains to St. Peter and to all of us the need to forgive un-conditionally. Peter is of the opinion that forgiving his offending brother seven times is being very generous and noble. But Jesus corrects him and tells him that he should forgive not merely seven times but seventy times seven - which means (that he has) to forgive innumerable times. Jesus explains this teaching through the parable of two debtors. It is about a Master and his two servants. The first one owed the Master ten thousand talents. He is asked to pay back the entire amount immediately. Unable to pay such a huge sum, the man pleads for mercy from the Master and the Master out of pity forgives all his debt. A little later, the same man meets a fellow servant who owed him a mere hundred denari. He asks his fellow servant to pay back the entire amount immediately. This man too pleads with him to have mercy and asks pardon. But the first servant does not relent and puts his fellow servant in prison till he paid the entire debt. When the Master comes to know about the un-forgiving attitude of the servant who is a recipient of his mercy, he is extremely upset and angry. Although this servant received forgiveness and mercy from the Master, the same mercy is not shown to his fellow servant. As a result, the Master deals with him very harshly till he paid the whole debt. Hence, forgiving those who have done wrong to us is the pre-condition for us to receive forgiveness and mercy from God. Thus the only obstacle that we can put in the way of God's forgiveness for our sins is our refusal to forgive the sins of other humans. 

"To err is human but to forgive is divine." - Proverb

"Father, forgive them: for they do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23: 24

Twenty-third Sunday of the Year: A: September 10, 2023

 NEED FOR FRATERNAL CORRECTIONS AND RECONCILIATION

First Reading: Ezekiel 33: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 13: 8-10

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 15-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel is asked by the Lord God to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He is given the duty to warn all the wicked people in the land. The instructions given to Ezekiel  by the Lord God are applicable to all the leaders who are chosen to play a prophetic role in the community. He/ she has to speak out against all forms of evil in the community and correct the erring members. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul reminds the Christian community at Rome and us about the pre-eminence of the law of love in all situations in life. He instructs us that the practice of Christian love fulfills all other commandments and prevents a person from doing wrong.  

Healing broken relationships                                                                                Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus gives us some important and relevant guidelines regarding the duty of a Christian and the Christian community in correcting an erring member of the community in a gentle and delicate manner. The instructions of Jesus in this context are simple and straight forward. The offended person - not the offending one - should be the first one to seek reconciliation. The Christian community should resolve internal conflicts with one another privately and in a personal manner. The purpose of this open personal meeting is not to humiliate the offending person but to be reconciled with him/her. Hence, this kind of action is to regain the brother or the sister who had a break in relationship. It is solely for restoring the broken relationship and not for denouncing or to put blame on one another. That is why Jesus tells us, "If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." (Matt. 18: 15) In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus assures us His divine and continued presence wherever two or three are gathered in His name. These words of Jesus should encourage us and strengthen us to be part of a caring, forgiving and praying community. 

"The fruits of charity are joy, peace and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction." - St. Augustine

"Today we have to learn all over again that love for the sinner and love for the person who has been harmed are correctly balanced." - Pope Benedict XVI

Twenty-second Sunday of the Year: A: September 3, 2023

                     THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 7-9

Second Reading: Romans 12: 1-2

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 21-27

   * First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah bitterly complains about the painful situation that he is facing: fierce opposition, insults, reproach and derision from the people. He is despised by everyone because he is speaking for the Lord God. Trusting in the power of the Lord God, he pleads that with the help of the Almighty, he be able to continue his mission entrusted to him. 

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul urges the Christian community at Rome and us not to be influenced by the worldly ways of people around them. He pleads with them to live their lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. 

Gaining life and losing life                                                                     Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In the first part of today's Gospel, Jesus explains to His disciples His impending rejection at Jerusalem and His death on the cross. This revelation shocks the disciples and they cannot accept such a situation. Consequently, Peter and other Apostles protest and try to persuade the Lord: That such an event should never happen to the Lord. Jesus immediately tells Peter, "Get behind me Satan." Jesus tells him not to be a stumbling block to the plan of God. It is surprising that Peter who was earlier praised by the Lord and was assured that he would become the rock on which the Church would be built (Matthew 16:18) turned out to be a stumbling block. What a turn of events! It is a clear warning from the Lord for everyone, especially those who exercise authority in the Church. In the second part of today's Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples the paradox of being His disciples. To be a disciple would imply that he/she should take up one's cross and follow the Lord in the most difficult situations of life. He further instructs that those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for His sake will find it. This is the challenge that Jesus puts before us everyday of our lives. If we put ourselves at the center of our lives, we will fail. But if we put Jesus at the center of our lives we will surely succeed. This is the message that the Lord puts before us to be His authentic and genuine disciples. 

Twenty-first Sunday of the Year: A: August 27, 2023

               THE REAL IDENTITY OF JESUS

First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19-23

Second Reading: Romans 11: 33-37

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16: 13-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the people of Israel that the Lord God will remove the corrupt official Shebna who does not take care of the chosen people. In his place, the Lord God will appoint Eliakim who will take fatherly care of the people of Jerusalem and of Judah. He will rule the people with fairness and justice. Thus the Lord God will bring justice to His chosen people. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community in Rome and us about the inscrutable mystery of God: That He is the creator and the Lord of all that exists. We humans with all our wisdom and human way of understanding are very much limited. We cannot truly comprehend or understand the infinite wisdom of God. 

Who do you say that I am?                                                                      Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus reveals His true identity during His conversation with His disciples. Jesus puts two questions to His disciples. The first question is, "Who do men say that I am?" He is interested to know what the people of that time thought about Him. The answers as expressed by the disciples consist of the following: 'Some say, you are John the Baptist (who has come back to life) or  Prophet Elijah or Prophet Jeremiah or one of the prophets of old.' Hence, the perception of the people in general are limited to the understanding of Jesus as a prophet or as a man of God. Then Jesus puts a second question, a personal one to His disciples. 'Who do you say that I am?' It is a very searching question. Peter immediately speaks up and confesses: 'You are the Christ, the Son of God.' Impressed by this great answer from Peter, Jesus praises him and tells Peter then and there that this confession of faith expressed by him is something extraordinary and it is a revelation from the heavenly Father. Jesus further confirms that Peter will be made the head of the future Church and that he is the rock on which He will build His Church. Today, Jesus puts the same question to each one of us: 'Who do you say that I am?' As He converses with us we could recall some of the faith journeys we had in our lives. Perhaps the image of Jesus in our early stages in life have undergone tremendous transformation. Perhaps as the years have gone by, our faith experiences of Jesus have deepened and strengthened. May be we could also share some of our faith experiences with others as the Apostles did during their lifetime. They faithfully transmitted their faith experiences to the future generations. 

"There are so many religions and each one has its different ways of following God. I follow Christ: Jesus is my God." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"I see Jesus in every human being." -St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta