October 25, 2020: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus teaches a great truth in today's Gospel reading when He states the two greatest of all the 600-something commandments in Jewish Law are to love God and love our neighbors.  He furthermore adds that everything depends on these two commandments because love is the motivation behind our call to uphold them.

God has shown us love in establishing a relationship with us.  And while He is unseen, He makes Himself known through pouring out sacrificial love for us, and we reveal Him by pouring out love for others.  As the commands in the first reading declare, we are to care for the needs of those who are in a lowly state.  Like the Israelites when they were enslaved in Egypt, so we all have had a time in our lives when we were in need.

In the New Covenant in Christ, this love is the basis for our faith, as we imitate Christ-like behavior, showing the love he has first shown us through dying and rising, so that the living God is truly present among us, as the Holy Spirit equips us to live this love.

October 18, 2020: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

With great joy I reflect on these readings, which were proclaimed at my Confirmation Mass 15 years ago.

Jesus masterfully wards off His adversaries' attempt to trap Him by a noble statement of giving to Caesar what belongs to him, and then takes it to a higher level of offering to God what belongs to Him.

Ultimately, everything belongs to God, especially us, because we are made in His image, and walking by faith, we continuously strive to be conformed to His image, as we offer ourselves to God.  

God, enthroned above all the powers of Earth, He chooses certain individuals as instruments to accomplish His purposes, like Cyrus, the Persian king, Who he called the annointed one, the Messiah, and Cyrus fulfilled that designation as the one who sent the Israelites back to their land and even helped rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

Indeed, God has chosen each of us to bear His image, and be part of His purposes in our world, which He accomplished through the Gospel, which is worked in us powerfully through the Holy Spirit, and so we strive in faith, hope, and love.

October 11, 2020: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Like St. Paul writes, God supplies us abundantly with everything we need.

In fact, He offers us a great banquet, where we can delight in His presence.

It is a great invitation, and it compels us to respond by coming, and fully embracing the life God offers us, which is not an invitation that everyone in the story completely accepts.

So let's put on the Christian dignity He gives us, as I see symbolized in the wedding garments given to the guests, and head toward the Heavenly banquet, keeping that dignity unstained.

Today is the day in 1962 when the Vatican II Council convened, which opened up a new understanding for all the people of the church to embrace the universal call to holiness.

As Jesus says, "Many are invited, but few are chosen."

The invitation extended to all provides a great opportunity as we strive to take hold of the great riches God offers us, flowing through all parts of our lives.  We acknowledge that God equips us and strengthens us for all things, so we can live consistent with all that God provides.

October 4, 2020: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God has lavished so much upon us, even the blessing of forming us into His people.

While it is a great gift freely given, it compels us to make something of it.

The story told in slightly differing versions in Isaiah and then the Gospel according to St. Matthew tells about how God had expectations that His people, represented as the vineyard, and those attending the vineyard, and was disappointed when they didn't produce good fruit in keeping with His blessings.

So as is told in the Gospel reading, the owner of the vineyard gave care of the vineyard to other people who would produce its fruit, which happened when the way was opened for the Gentiles to enter and tend to the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

All of us are freely given the gift of blessing as God's people, and all of us are compelled to share those blessings. We are called, as St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading, to focus on what is worthy, drawing constantly and closely to God in prayer, and abiding in the way of righteousness.

On this Respect Life Sunday, may we behold the great gift of Life we have each day, and embrace the noble and worthy responsibility to uphold it for all.

September 27, 2020: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Once again, God is turning the tables on our usual way of thinking:  People whose reputation has been soiled by sins are entering the Kingdom of God, receiving the gift God grants in salvation that brings Newness of Life.

No matter how far we have strayed, we all can be restored to right relationship with God, if we soften and humble our hearts and return to Him, embracing the way that pleases God.

And we join with all people of faith, seeking to build one another up in living in this Life. Each day we strive toward God, Who has made this gift of salvation possible through Christ, Who humbled HImself to die for us. He is now exalted, even in how He is the ultimate example for living God's way.

September 21, 2020: Feast of St. Matthew

The Gospel proclaims Jesus Christ, and it has the power to save us and transform our lives.

St. Matthew himself experienced this as he was doing his work.  Jesus called him, and St. Matthew followed.  Jesus put Himself in the presence of sinners so they could be transformed, because they are most in need of transformative grace.

And when changed, we are called to live our lives anew, fulfilling His purposes, so that all the world may come to know the message of the Gospel that saves.

September 20, 2020: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first reading really prepares us for the unusual nature of the Gospel passage when God, through Isaiah, proclaims that His ways are not our ways.

From our human, economic standpoint, paying the same wage to laborers regardless of how long they toiled is illogical.

And this aspect of the story invites us to move beyond our ways of thinking to acknowledge how God regards us.

Though He is just, He is also abundantly merciful, and generously grants us His mercy so that we can live a full life, in Him.

Rather than focusing on what's fair and unfair, let's seek after this God Who is so generous in forgiving.  For we are called to receive this gift from Him and share it with others, as we put our faith into action, living in a way worthy of the Gospel, as Christ, Who so mercifully saved us, is now directing the course of our lives.