LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON US

XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 21:33-43

In the first reading (Isaiah 5:1-7), the prophet Isaiah compares the people of Israel to a vineyard planted by the Lord with “choice vines”. He took good care of the vineyard and did whatever was needed to have the best grapes. However, it only produced “sour grapes”. And the prophet explains what caused the Lord to be disappointed: “He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.” As a consequence, the Lord abandoned the vineyard and left it to its own fate.

The theme of the vineyard is taken up in the gospel (Matthew 21:33-43), through the parable of the evil tenants. In this parable, Jesus looks at the history of the people of Israel and reads it as a history of betrayal and revolt. The tenants ignored the owner of the vineyard and ill-treated his messengers, beating them up and even killing some of them. In the end, he sent his only son, hoping that they would respect him. However, when they saw the son, they decided to kill him and become the sole owners of the vineyard.

Jesus identified himself with the son sent by the Father and killed by the tenants (the leaders of the people of Israel). Then, Jesus asked his listeners, "Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” And they gave the answer that condemned them: “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.”

Today, the parable must be applied to us. We are the tenants to whom Jesus entrusted his Church, the vineyard. Time and again, we show the same type of behaviour as the leaders of the people of Israel. We ignore and despise the word of God and those who proclaim it. Like those who came before us, we want to be the owners of our own destiny, defying God and revolting against him. One day, the evil results of such behaviour will come to us.

The Psalm (Psalm 80), which comes after the first reading, is a plea to God, reminding him that he was the one who chose us, and we go on waiting for his mercy and compassion.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,

  look down from heaven and see.

Visit this vine and protect it,

  the vine your right hand has planted.

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

And we shall never forsake you again;

  give us life that we may call upon your name.

God of hosts, bring us back;

  let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

LORD, MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS

XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 21:28-32

There is a question that I have heard being asked many times: “Are you saved?” The question implies that, if I have accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour, I am saved. By faith alone, I am justified. Then, once saved, I am really saved. And I will not lose my salvation. It is very reassuring, indeed. However, we Catholics feel very uneasy when asked that question. We know and believe that, as disciples of Jesus, we entered the path that leads to salvation, but we haven't arrived yet, and along the way we may get lost. If we follow Jesus’ way, we trust that the Lord will guide and protect us up to the end. However, we cannot be overconfident, since we may fall back and go astray. Paul was sure of that when he wrote, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Co 10:12). We should not forget that we will be judged according to our actions and behaviour.

This Sunday’s parable makes it clear that God does not take into consideration our first answer. He gives us time to prove our resolution and show our commitment. The first reaction may be negative, but along the way, we may repent and change course. The first son rejected his father’s order, plainly saying that he would not do the job entrusted to him. Then, after some reflection, he decided to go, obeying his father’s wish. And he was praised for that. The second son gave a positive answer to his father’s request but then didn’t go and disobeyed his father’s orders.

The first reading, taken from Ezekiel 18:25-28, may be read as an explanation of the parable. Before God, our past does not count. Yesterday has passed, and we should not be prisoners of it. Those who went astray may find the way at any moment and turn back to God, thus finding life and salvation. And the opposite is true as well. We may have followed the right path for many years and then get tired and discouraged, ending up looking for other ways that destroy our links to God. We are standing, but if we lose attention, we may fall and turn our backs to the Lord. God judges us according to the situation he finds us in.

In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Philippians, Paul advises us to look to Jesus, learn from him and follow in his footsteps. We must remain faithful to the end.

Lord, make me know your ways.

  Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

  for you are God my saviour.

Psalm 25

THE LORD IS KIND AND FULL OF COMPASSION

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 20:1-16

In our modern society and with today's mentality, profit is the only measure of value in any business. The greater the profit, the more valuable something is, and we rank people and enterprises by profit. Jesus does not follow such a logic, and this Sunday’s gospel makes it clear. To enter the Kingdom of God, one must answer God’s call and be ready to work and carry out the task entrusted to us. However, the Kingdom of God goes beyond our efforts and our commitment. We are never worthy of the Kingdom of God, no matter what we do. We will enter if we accept with thanksgiving God’s gift, who is superabundant in his grace.

In the parable, the labourers were offered work at different times, and the first ones worked harder and longer than the last ones, but all of them answered promptly when they were invited and sent to the vineyard. The first ones, who worked the whole day, agreed to do the job for one denarius, the ordinary wage for one day of manual labour. In the army, the common soldier also received one denarius a day. However, the soldier was sure of his wages, while the manual labourer depended on finding work. One denarius a day was enough to keep one’s family and to live acceptably. So the first ones who went to the vineyard received the necessary for the upkeep of their household. And the owner of the vineyard decided to give all the others, even the last ones, enough to have a worthy life with their families. He gave what should be given and respected the workers’ rights, but he was generous enough to give to all of them the essentials for their living.

It is by grace that we are accepted in God’s kingdom; it is not something that we conquer and obtain on our own. To all of us, God grants the same dignity and the same opportunity to answer his call. There is no competition, and there is no place for a sense of pride. We don’t fight for the first place, as if we can win, leaving the others behind. We must humble ourselves and offer our hand to all those who seem to be behind so that, in the end, we reach the goal together, receiving the same reward that will surpass our expectations.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

  slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

  compassionate to all his creatures.

Psalm 145

THE LORD IS COMPASSION AND LOVE

XXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9

In this Sunday’s gospel, we listen to the parable about the unforgiving servant (Mt 18:21-35) and the fate that awaited him: he was handed over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. Indeed, he was in an impossible predicament. His debt was huge; thus, he would never be able to pay it. If he did not manage it while he was free and able to work, how could he do it now in prison? However, he could not blame anybody for his difficult situation. He had brought it upon himself.

The parable is very clear and to the point. Even his co-workers were shocked by his harshness and lack of compassion. How could he be so unforgiving against his fellow servant, while he had been forgiven a huge amount of money that he would never be able to pay? “His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him.” And he was taken back to his master, who could not understand such lack of compassion and mercy, and he defined his moral calibre in a simple sentence: “You wicked servant”. He was a selfish man, only thinking of himself, incapable of empathy for others. Arrogant and exacting for others, as if surrounded by an aura of power and prestige, while, before the more powerful, like his master, he was ready to fall on his knees and prostrate himself.

Jesus ends the parable with a warning: “And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.” How can we dare to ask God for forgiveness while we have a merciless attitude towards others? Such an attitude reveals our own character and says more about ourselves than the others. The first reading, taken from the book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), presents a reflection on this subject: 

“Resentment and anger, these are foul things, 

and both are found with the sinner.” 

“If a man nurses anger against another, 

can he then demand compassion from the Lord? Showing no pity for a man like himself, 

can he then plead for his own sins?” 

“He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord,

  who keeps strict account of sin.

Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you,

  and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.”

When we allow our hearts to be dominated by evil, they cannot find peace and be at rest. Evil will end up destroying our lives, as it destroys the lives of others. May the Lord grant us a heart full of kindness, mercy and compassion so that we allow ourselves to be touched by the sufferings of others.

 LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

XXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 18:15-20

This Sunday’s first reading is taken from the prophet Ezekiel and invites us to reflect on the role of the prophet. He is a human being – "son of man” – called by God and entrusted with a mission: “Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel.” (Ez 33:7-9) A sentry must be on the alert and keep guard to warn, protect and defend. The prophet is called to be at the service of God’s word. He should never betray his ministry and must remain faithful to the Lord who sent him. A true prophet does not preach his own word but God’s word. He has no right to ignore, change or adapt God’s word. He is answerable to God, not to the people who hear his preaching. In our times, like in the times of Israel, there are false prophets and fake preachers who do everything to please the crowds and be surrounded by multitudes. Some become rich and powerful preaching the Gospel, thus becoming unfaithful to their mission. As a sentry, the prophet must warn people to abandon their evil ways and turn back to the Lord. The true prophet must call on people to repent and convert. The great prophet John the Baptist did that, and so did Jesus. The unfaithful prophets will be held accountable for their evil behaviour.

In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Romans, Paul insists on love as being the full obedience to the commandments. The one who is moved by love cannot hurt his neighbour. Love is the fulfilment of the law, doing everything for the well-being of others. If we experienced God’s love, we would learn the way of mercy and compassion, allowing our hearts to be touched by the suffering of others. According to Paul, mutual love is the debt we have to others, and this is a debt that must be paid.

This mutual love must lead us to do a brotherly correction, which must be done in a sensible way and with respect. We must worry about the salvation of our brothers and sisters and do everything in our power to help them to walk along the way to salvation. We may do it with our prayer and our word and hope that they will do the same to us so that we may share together in God’s glory as we shared the difficult journey of life in this world.

Let us keep in mind the words of the psalmist:

O that today you would listen to his voice!

  ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

  as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

  when they tried me, though they saw my work.’

Psalm 95

IF ANYONE WANTS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF MINE…

XXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 16:21-27

God’s ways are not our ways. We can easily deceive ourselves, as we are led by false expectations, trying to mould God’s kingdom to our desires for wealth and power. Standing for the Apostles and for ourselves as well, Peter could not accept Jesus’ way, even though he told them that he is the Way, the only way to the Father, from whom comes life and salvation. We always take the easy way as the true way; however, that is the way of selfishness. We choose what is pleasant and gratifying, always guided by a strong need to be the centre and the reference of everything.

When he heard God’s call, Jeremiah felt deeply happy and joyful. He experienced God’s love and put himself at God’s service. However, that service put him at odds with the political and religious leaders of the people. He was rejected and persecuted, and looking backwards to his life, he became aware that "the word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long.” And Jeremiah felt torn apart, pulled back and forth: in anguish, he thought of abandoning his ministry, but God’s love burning in his heart would not allow him to do that. 

“I used to say, ‘I will not think about him,

I will not speak in his name any more.’

Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart,

imprisoned in my bones.” (Jeremiah 20:7-9)

Jeremiah went through the experience of the true prophet who passes through rejection because of his faithfulness to the ministry entrusted to him. Jesus knew that he was going to have the same fate as the true prophets, and he decided to tell the apostles about that, thus dashing their false expectations of a good life based on false foundations. When Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from the true path, He answered with harsh words: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.”

Indeed, our place is behind Jesus, walking in his footsteps, following the way that leads to Calvary and to the cross: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

We may ask ourselves why we have to pass through suffering. Since the very beginning, all those who answer God’s call and put themselves at his service are seen as enemies that should be thrown out of this world. Whenever they decide to remain faithful, they are rejected and considered outcasts, as enemies of the common good.

Let us pray for all Christians who carry their cross like Jesus Christ. May they find the strength to remain faithful to the end, receiving then the reward for their faithfulness.

WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD

XXI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 16:13-20

This Sunday’s gospel presents two themes that seem unrelated but are, in fact, deeply connected: the profession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, essential to the existence of the Church, and the leadership of the Church entrusted to Peter.

Jesus Christ and the proclamation of his Gospel are the sole reason the Church exists. Without Christ, there is no Church. He is the foundation, the cornerstone, the centre and the apex of the Church. Without Christ, the Church would be no more than a human enterprise or simply an NGO that cares for the people’s well-being. The Church is the assembly, the family and the body of those who believe in Jesus, that is, those who, answering Jesus’ call, have established a deep relationship with him. For them, life is meaningless without Jesus. The believers in Jesus are those who came to the same conclusion as Simon Peter, thus being able to give the same answer to Jesus’ personal question: Who do you say I am? There are many different answers about Jesus: the man from Nazareth, the carpenter, the son of Mary, the preacher, the prophet, a man of wisdom who ended up on the cross. For some, he is a false prophet who misled people and a blasphemer who deserved to die. Jesus was aware of the different opinions people held about him; that is why he asked a direct question to the apostles: And you, who do you say I am? Peter gave the answer that has been the disciples’ answer throughout centuries: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Today, two thousand years later, we repeat the same profession of faith, and we proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

The second part of the gospel speaks of leadership in the Church. The leadership is needed to uphold this essential profession of faith. Upon his profession of faith, Simon was called to guide the Church and to lead and protect her. He is the rock upon which the Church is built. When we reject this rock, the Church shakes and moves forward in deep and dangerous waters. He was given the keys; that is, the power to lock and unlock, to decide and to rule. The ministry entrusted to him is for the service of the Church. He is called to be the shepherd of the flock, leading it to green pastures and refreshing waters: “Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:17)

Let us reaffirm our faith and renew our commitment as disciples of Jesus Christ. Let us pray as well for the Pope, who is entrusted with Peter’s ministry, that he may be a good shepherd, giving his life in the service of the sheep.