Tag: God

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of ancient Roman coin with Caesar's image

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Mass readings

First Reading: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Responsorial: Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101820.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

My brothers and sisters, it’s like God picked these readings for this election season. Of course, they were selected by the Holy Spirit, and I’m not sure we could find better readings for our consideration!

In the Gospel today, Jesus says to those sent to trap him, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). There is a lot of meaning there for us! First, citizens are called to cast a ballot no matter how distasteful you find politics or disappointed with the process you feel. Our vote, in a way, is us rendering onto Caesar. Of course, this example overly simplifies politics, but I think it’s fair to say this is one way to look at it.

Second, we should be active in the process. It’s our obligation as citizens of faith to bring our tradition’s wisdom and to influence positive changes. There is a danger in engaging Caesar’s world. The risk is that we get sucked into the quest to wield power and influence. But as we discussed in All Things Catholic on October 7th, our bishops suggest that “We should not let the party transform us in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths or approve intrinsically evil acts.” <1>

From my perch outside the United States, I see so much division in the country – even in our parishes. That’s painful to watch. Our divisions run deep. Why? Perhaps it’s because many of us have been sucked into the parties. Maybe people are being transformed by the parties and not the other way around.

Look, we’re Christian first. We have to be Christians first. No political candidate will stand with you or me on judgment day. We will be held accountable for how we spent our time on this third rock from the sun. The minute we can’t agree to disagree – the minute we can’t stand to be in the company of our brothers and sisters because of their politics – is the day we should recognize that something is terribly, terribly wrong.

We Catholics are Christians and our first and second readings give us some insight we should be mindful of. In our first reading from Isaiah, we hear that we are each of us called by our names (Isaiah 45:4). We are not called by our political affiliations. We are not called because our candidate is pro-anything. We are not called because of the size of our bank accounts or our retirement balances or the car we drive. We are called because we are created in the image and likeness of God. Period.

Our Catholic faith teaches us that being created in the image and likeness of God means we have a certain dignity. No one can take that away from us. No vote we’ve cast – no party we’ve supported. No one can take away our dignity if – if we reconcile ourselves with God. In six weeks, we begin Advent – a great time to be reconciled!

Paul reminds us that we were chosen. You were chosen. I was chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4). That means you are worthy. How is this possible? Paul tells us that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we were set apart. We are not supposed to live our lives on the hamster wheel, chasing fortune and glory. We were chosen to help build the Kingdom of God right here, right now.

Paul says that Spirit came with much conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Do you feel convicted? Do you feel that you every fiber of your being is vibrating with the love of Jesus Christ for you and for everyone you encounter? When you look at yourself in the mirror, who do you see? Do you see yourself like Mother Teresa or more like a Wall Street tycoon? It’s easy to get caught up in the energy of chasing the next dollar, but I suggest to you that instead of chasing that which is Caesar’s, wouldn’t we be better off pausing every now and then and allowing God’s grace to rain down upon us and so that we can use this grace to reach out with love to make this a better world?

Homework! Inspired by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.
1. During this election cycle, have I lost my temper and blown up at anyone instead trying to have a conversation?
2. Can I promote the attitude “agree to disagree” as a small way of promoting peace and justice?

I think doing our homework will help us right our course away from Caesar and back toward Jesus. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
<1> United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2020), no. 14. Adobe Digital Editions PDF.

References:
1. Eubank, Nathan. First and Second Thessalonians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2019. Kindle.
2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Participation in the social sphere, 1897-1917
2. Duties of citizens, 2238-2244

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101820.cfm
Lectionary: 145

Reading 1
Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

Responsorial
Psalm 96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10
R. (7b) Give the Lord glory and honor.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
For great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
awesome is he, beyond all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are things of nought,
but the LORD made the heavens.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.
Worship the LORD, in holy attire;
tremble before him, all the earth;
say among the nations: The LORD is king,
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Give the Lord glory and honor.

Reading 2
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5B
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God,
how you were chosen.
For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

Alleluia
Philippians 2:15D, 16A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world
as you hold on to the word of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel
Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
“Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion,
for you do not regard a person’s status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax.”
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”
They replied, “Caesar’s.”
At that he said to them,
“Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”

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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of many roads going in different directions and many confusing street signs

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Mass readings

First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10A
Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-6
Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101120.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

What an interestingly odd Gospel reading today. Don’t you think? Those who are invited turn their backs and are destroyed. Those who are invited and come are not guaranteed to remain. How is that fair?

Ok, maybe this reading isn’t as odd as it is disturbing. Why would those invited not come? Well, it’s all about distraction. In the Gospel, they are so caught up in their own lives – their businesses and their busyness – that they ignore the invitation.

Now maybe we can all relate to this in some way. We get caught up in work or in our activities, binge-watching a show or glued to social media. Have you ever looked up and thought to yourself, “Where did all the time go?” These little distractions can amount to sins if they keep us from our true purpose.

In The Screwtape Letters, “Letter 12”, C.S. Lewis writes, “You can keep him up late at night, not roistering, but staring at a dead fire in a cold room. All the healthy and outgoing activities which we want him to avoid can be inhibited and nothing given in return, so that at last he may say, as one of my own patients said on his arrival down here, ‘I now see that I spent most of my life doing neither what I ought nor what I liked.”

Sound familiar? These distractions that keep us from doing what we ought or what we like can seem so important in the moment. Believe me – I’ve been there and done that – and sometimes I think I keep falling into the same trap! Technology makes it all too easy to get lost on three-hour tour of nothing!

God invites us. We are invited! The first reading gives us a wonderful description: rich foods, choice wines, where death is destroyed and every tear is wiped away (Isaiah 25:6, 8). We are invited, but God will not make us come to him. We must freely choose. So, in the Gospel account those who chose to ignore eventually experienced the reality of their poor choices. They were wiped out!

What about the person who was invited and came to the party without a proper wedding garment? I think this person is like the bench warmer. You know the type – the person who comes to mass for any reason except out of commitment to Jesus Christ. This person might come out of obligation. Worse still, this person participates in the Eucharist – a taste of the heavenly banquet – but is not converted. They are so filled with their own sense of right and wrong that the words of Scripture can’t penetrate the heart. But really, this person comes without a wedding garment. In other words, the person does not come predisposed to the saving grace offered by God through his church.

C.S. Lewis closes this letter this way, “You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy [meaning God]. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

Whoa! Listen, I wouldn’t recommend listen to the dramatized version of the Screwtape Letters, like the Radio Theatre version, on a cold, rainy night! But is this accurate? Look, most of us will never encounter the physical manifestation of evil, thank God! Lucifer’s greatest power is to plant seeds of fear and doubt. Lucifer can’t make us do anything, but by sowing doubt, discord, disunity, we put distance between ourselves and God.

Scripture says, “…let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the Lamb’s wedding feast has come…” (Revelation 19:6-9). Where will you be on that day?

Homework! Nourished at the table of the Word and Sacrament, let’s reflect on the following two questions.
1. What distractions occupy too much of my time?
2. Are there things I could be doing right now to help build the kingdom of God – to help my pastor and my parish community reach out to those on the margins?

I think our homework might help us refocus our attention. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Ament!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

Notes: Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

References:
1. Hamm, Dennis, SJ. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2013. Kindle.
2. Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast. Annotated Edition. New York: HarperOne, 2013. Kindle.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Jesus invites sinners, but demands conversion, 543-46
2. The Eucharist is the foretaste of the Messianic Banquet, 1402-05, 2837

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101120.cfm
Lectionary: 142

Reading 1
Isaiah 25:6-10A
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial
Psalm 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6
R. (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Reading 2
Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

Alleluia
Ephesians 1:17-18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope
that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14 OR 22:1-10
Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?’
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

or

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.”

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9
Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090620.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org

Today’s readings help us understand what it means to live a Christian life. With many of our nations so polarized, it is crucial to understand what it means to be a Christian now more than ever.

Paul tells us today that the entire law can be summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:9). This is a super important point to understand about our faith. You see, the Ten Commandments and indeed the 613 Jewish commandments are not a list of things of what to do or what not to do. At their core, the commandments teach us about loving God (Hahn, 235). Some commandments pertain to our relationship with God, and the others inform our relationships with our fellow humans, but grounding all of these rules is love.

Scripture teaches us that God is love. Now, there are several words for love in Greek. Eros describes a love which finds satisfaction in the person or thing loved. Philia means companionship or friendship. But Agape is a very different kind of love. It’s a love completely centered on the one loved (Himes, 128). The closest English translation is “self-gift.” When we think about the Trinity, we think of perfect self-gift, perfect reception, and perfect self-gift. So, we can say that God is least wrongly thought of as a relationship (Himes, 136).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the middle of them” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus is not telling us that whenever we get together with anyone, he is with us. What this means is that whenever people come together in true mutual love, in genuine concern and care for one another, in other words, agape, Jesus is there among them” (Himes). That’s why Paul tells us, “Love does not do any evil to the neighbour – therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

As Christians, we should look to others – especially other Christians who are created in the image and likeness of God with mutual love and genuine concern. That’s why Jesus tells us about how we should handle disagreements with our brothers and sisters (Matthew 18:15-19). Saying hurtful things, especially in the anonymity of social media, horrible things, or saying they aren’t Christian is precisely the opposite of what the Gospel is challenging us to do.

Take the US elections, for example. Now please hear me out. Some people are laser-focused on abortion, so much so that if you say you’re voting for a pro-choice candidate, you are accused of not being Catholic. May I ask a question? If the person voting this way doesn’t believe this is a problem, do you honestly think berating them about their vote is going to win hearts and minds for Jesus? I assure you it won’t any more than locking a woman up if she has an abortion.

I want to be clear. I most emphatically affirm life, from the womb to the tomb. I think the election is a symptom of a much larger problem. We need to get to of the root problem, and one election is just not going to cut it. Like the examples Jesus gives us in Scripture, we meet people where they are. As missionary disciples, we need to help spread the Church’s understanding of God’s relationship with us – about love. But if social media gives us any indication, sometimes that means acknowledging that we might not be the best mediators of that message. Maybe we need to share a good book on this topic with them. Maybe we suggest a particularly good video on the subject. Maybe we offer to host a watch party for one of these videos or movies? There are many ways to evangelize but at the heart of it has to be love – not anger or prejudice or vitriol – love.

The point is, we cannot find God in conflict and anger or hate or the anonymity of social media. That’s why our responsorial today is, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Psalm 95). The exercise that Jesus outlines in today’s Gospel is really about trying to reconcile people – about trying to avoid the extreme, although that does happen. But before it gets to that point, we should try to understand and pass on the Church’s teachings out of love – out of a real desire for conversion. To prepare ourselves for this task, we need a little homework!

Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions this week:

  1. When have you experienced God as love?
  2. How does love of neighbor obligate me to evangelize my friends and family?

Doing our homework today will help us treat and work with other people I encounter through love. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Prayer. Artist unknown. JPEG file.

References:
1. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017. Kindle.
2. Himes, Michael. The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2004. Kindle.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ’s presence, 1373
2. Reconciliation with the Church, 1443-45
3. Charity and the commandments, 1824
4. Love infused by the Spirit, 1972
5. Greatest commandments, 2055, 2196
6. “As we forgive those who trespass against us,” 2842-45

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090620.cfm
Lectionary: 127

Reading 1
Ezekiel 33:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;
when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die,”
and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,
the wicked shall die for his guilt,
but I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn the wicked,
trying to turn him from his way,
and he refuses to turn from his way,
he shall die for his guilt,
but you shall save yourself.

Responsorial
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2
Romans 13:8-10
Brothers and sisters:
Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery;
you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,”
and whatever other commandment there may be,
are summed up in this saying, namely,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

Alleluia
2 Corinthians 5:19
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”