Tag: Year A

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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Two one-way street signs pointing in different directions. One says my way and the other says God's way

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9
Responsorial: Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Second Reading: Philippians 1:20C-24, 27A
Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16A

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092020.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

The picture I selected for today is a set of one-way signs which I think reflect our first reading from Isaiah, “…nor like your ways are my ways,” (Isaiah 55:8). One sign points in a direction and reads, “God’s Way,” and the other points in a different direction and reads, “My Way.” This picture is interesting to me for many reasons, but what strikes me most is that the road leading up to this point had room enough for both God’s way and my way. But at this particular intersection, the path splits.

This tells me that people of faith inspired by the Word of God evident in Scriptures and Tradition can very often set out on the correct path. Our work and efforts seem to coincide with God’s will. But at some point on our journey, we take a left turn. Our path splits off from God’s path. But here’s the kicker: we may not realize we took a wrong turn.

How can that be? How can we veer off and not even realize it? While we mean well, somehow our self-righteousness blinds us. What we see God doing doesn’t compute. Take for example when Jesus allows the woman to anoint his feet with precious oil, (John 12:3). Or the time Jesus decided to eat with Zacchaeus – a tax collector and traitor to his people, (Luke 19:1-10). Or the time Jesus said to the crowd, “Let the Sinless One of you be the first to throw a stone at her,” (John 8:7). Or in today’s Gospel passage when the landowner pays a full wage to those who only worked one hour (Matthew 20:10).

The mercy and compassion God reveals to us through Jesus’ actions don’t match the way we might handle the situation. Let’s say we de-identified these Scripture passages and you read them, how would you react then? Would you think the merciful and generous person was a fool?

Even though we might mean well, our path veers away from God’s path because sin enters our thoughts and actions. Much like the laborers in today’s Gospel passage, we might think to ourselves, “it’s not fair!” Or worse yet, inspired by our self-righteousness, we might advocate for laws that discriminate or harm not because we want to be evil, but because we genuinely think we are right.

What are some examples of this today?

Well, take for example law breakers. We as a society have a right to enforce our laws. But how we do that as a Christian people is important. Our faith teaches that we should respect the dignity of the human person. So, we advocate for life over and against a culture of death. Yet, some people think it was a good idea in the United States to separate the children of illegal immigrants from their parents and to place them in what amounts to cages.

Should illegal immigrants be detained? Look, every nation has the right to define and to defend its borders and to implement policies to managing illegal immigrants. But to treat people inhumanly – that’s where our path veers off from God’s path.

Or take for example a government sponsored program to help senior citizens, like social security. For some, the scant money set aside from wages during the working years can mean the difference as a retiree between filling a prescription or buying meat for the week. But some people never miss an opportunity to speak out against programs like social security. Somewhere along the way, we veered off God’s most generous path.

Or take the subject of abortion. Rooted in the dignity of the human person, the Church will always advocate for life. But the Church will never turn it’s back on the person who had an abortion or the person who supports politicians who might support abortion. The Church stands not with a ruler, but outstretched arms ready to welcome, not to punish. No priest or bishop would interrupt someone in the confessional and say, “wait, you voted how? You’re not Catholic! Get out of here!” Yet, some people think they have the authority to excommunicate people and to post messages on social media platforms that those who cast “wrong” ballots can’t call themselves Catholic. Really? Who died and made them pope? Somewhere along the way, we took a wrong turn.

I know all these examples can be difficult to consider, but God reminds us in Isaiah, “…nor like your ways are my ways,” (Isaiah 55:8). Our task as disciples is not to beat people over their heads, but to reach out with God’s love and mercy and generosity. We are called not to spread fear and hatred, but to bring the Good News of Christ into a dark world that desperately needs to hear a message of hope!

Homework! Nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, the bishops of the United States offer us these questions:

  1. Because no one has hired us. Who in my community is ignored or forgotten? How can I take notice of those too easily disregarded?
  2. Are you envious because I am generous? When do I measure myself against others? How can I be more generous with my time and resources?

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: Artist unknown. PNG file.

References:
1. Hamm, Dennis, SJ. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2013. Kindle.
2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
3. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
4. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Lectio Divina of the Gospels: For the Liturgical Year 2019-2020. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. God’s people: Jews and Gentiles, 62-64, 781
2. God of mercy and piety, 210-211
3. Jesus identifies his compassion to sinners with God’s, 588-589
4. Christian death, 1010-14
5. Life in Christ, 1691-98
6. Justice, 1807
7. Fair wages, 2434

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092020.cfm
Lectionary: 133

Reading 1
Isaiah 55:6-9
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Responsorial
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

Reading 2
Philippians 1:20C-24, 27A
Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Alleluia
Acts 16:14B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16A
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image with words I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Sirach 27:30 – 28:7
Responsorial: Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091320.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

Trusting in Divine Providence, Holy Mother Church curated the readings we hear this weekend, and these readings couldn’t come at a better time. I realize the elections are far from over, but it isn’t too early to start talking about peace and reconciliation. It’s not healthy to hold on to grudges – not for ourselves as individuals and not for our democracy. Writing two thousand years ago, Sirach tries to tell us about the healing power of forgiveness. Why indeed would we hold on to those things that harm us? (Sirach, 27:30).

Well, that’s not how we want to be treated, is it? No, of course not! Look at the story Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel about the servant who begged for mercy. He was in over his head and there was no way out of his debts. All he could do was beg for mercy, and his master, who was moved with compassion, granted him mercy (Matthew 18:27). But when it comes to other people – watch out!

That’s the next part of the Gospel story. The same servant who was shown mercy demanded repayment of a much smaller debt. What happened next? “Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “Wicked servant: I let you off all that debt, since you begged me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32-33).

And then what happened? The servant who would not forgive – now called wicked – was handed over to be tortured, and Jesus warned the same would be true with his Father (Matthew 18:34-35).

In Matthew 7:12, Jesus tells us to do unto others. What if the torture the Father intends for us is that we are treated the way we have treated other people – including the way we have held grudges or gossiped or spread rumors? Whatever the punishment, clearly the point from the Scriptures is that holding on to anger, the pain, the hurt will harm us. Even modern science and psychology warn us that our physical and mental health can be negatively affected if we hold on instead of forgiving.

Why do we want to hold on to the things that harm us?

Perhaps it’s because our pride takes over? We’re right. We know we’re right. We can prove we’re right. It’s irrational that the other person won’t admit it, but we sure aren’t going to give in because we are right. As the authors of Facing Forgiveness suggest, “Perhaps the lack of self-forgiveness is a repetition of the original sin of pride in the Garde of Eden” (44).
“But, Deacon, I’m right!”

Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien’s family was torn apart by the decision to make The Lord of the Rings into a movie? Christopher Tolkien, the son of J.R.R. Tolkien, was thoroughly against the Peter Jackson’s production. His son, Simon, supported the production. The rift between them was so great that Christopher disowned his son Simon and his family, turning his back on his grandson! (Facing Forgiveness, 65). Can you imagine sticking to your point of view so vehemently that you lose time with your own family? Thankfully before Christopher’s death this past January, he and Simon were reconciled, but at what cost? Time that they’ll never get back.

Even if we’re right and the other person is unreasonable, is it worth damaging our relationships with our family and friends or adding to our stress level just to prove a point?

Is it pride that makes us stubbornly hold on? Perhaps that’s what St. Paul means when he says that we need to die to ourselves? (Romans 14:7). At some point, whether we’re right or wrong, we need to let go – forgive and move on. After the elections are over, may we all remember that Jesus calls us to forgive and be reconciled.

Homework! Strengthened by the Word of God and the Eucharist to overcome our past hurts, I encourage you to reflect on the following three questions this week:

  1. Have I forgiven my self for anything I’ve done contrary to my values?
  2. Are there members of my own family from whom I am alienated? Am I willing to take the first step toward forgiveness?
  3. Who are my models of forgiveness?

I think doing our homework will help us become healed so that we can go out into the world as disciples of Christ 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: Artist unknown. PNG file.

References:
1. Hahn, Scott W. and Curtis Mitch. Romans. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2017. Kindle.
2. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
3. Sofield, S.T., Loughlan, Carroll Juliano, S.H.C.J., and Bishop Gregory m. Aymond. Facing Forgiveness. Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press, 2007.
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. God of mercy and piety, 210-11
2. Jesus identifies his compassion to sinners with God’s, 588-589
3. Christ our judge, 678-79
4. Las judgment, 1038-41
5. Forgiveness, 2843, 2845

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091320.cfm
Lectionary: 130

Reading 1
Sirach 27:30—28:7
Wrath and anger are hateful things,
yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance,
for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;
then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Could anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the LORD?
Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,
can he seek pardon for his own sins?
If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,
who will forgive his sins?
Remember your last days, set enmity aside;
remember death and decay, and cease from sin!
Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor;
remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.

Responsorial
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
R. (8) The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

Reading 2
Romans 14:7-9
Brothers and sisters:
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Alleluia
John 13:34
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Image of people praying while standing with their hands on each other's shoulders. Picture taken from behind

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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.”