Another week brings another message. This week's Gospel is quite different from the accounts of the previous several weeks. I will not be talking about the covenant fora change.
In this week's Gospel account we see one of the many attempts of the Pharisees to trap Jesus. The Pharisees hated Jesus. He constantly pointed them out and criticized them for their hypocrisy. If one man was able to defy them, what would stop the rest of the people from doing the same? To stop Christ's ministry, the Pharisees tried to catch him saying something controversial, something that would force the Romans to act.
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."
The Pharisees did not get what they want. They asked a Yes or No question, but Jesus gave them something completely unexpected. Let us look more closely at what he says. "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." This is said in response to the image on the coin. Since Caesar's image is on the coin, it is rightfully his. Nations require funds in order to function and taxes are a completely licit way of collecting funds. Jesus' response is highly logical. Man has no right to keep what is Caesar's away from him, for it is by his grace that they have the coins in the first place. That is only part of the point that Christ was making. Now we must look at the second half of Christ's response. In order to clarify it's meaning, let us look back to Genesis 1.
Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth.
God created mankind in his image;
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Once again we see the word image. Just as the coin is in the image of Caesar, so man is in the image of God. Man is created in the God's image and therefore rightfully belongs to God. Who are we to keep ourselves from Him. Jesus was once again calling out the Pharisees. They did not repay God with their lives. They were too concerned with power, control and legalism that they lost sight of what there purpose on this earth. Man's purpose is to come back to God and give him everything. This is an admonishment to us as well. How often do we lives over earthly things be it wealth, pleasure or anything else of that nature. Too much is the answer. Let us instead turn back to God and give him our all. Let us serve him with all that we have. Let us live in complete love and adoration of him.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Sunday Series: October 12, 2014
Last week I wrote about how the vineyard resembled the covenant that God has with his children and about how it was taken from the unfaithful tenants and given to those who would be faithful. In this week's Gospel we have a continuation of this theme but from a different angle.
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."
Once again we see a story representing the way God's covenant was originally rejected by those He had made it with. The people who were originally invited were the Jewish people. The King sought to bless his people by inviting them to the wedding feast of his son. It was a completely free gift, but the people either thought they had something better to do or held a grudge against the King when they had his servants put to death. The servants represent the prophets whom the Jews rejected. God calls people into covenant with him because he loves them and wants to be with them, but the gifts of grace and joy do not take effect when the people constantly turn their back on God.
The second half of the Gospel ushers in an example of the New Covenant. After the King had dealt with those who had rejected his invitation, he sent his servants (the 12 Apostles) to gather anyone they could find (Gentiles and Jews alike). All are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb, but not all will come. The Lord blesses us with his invitation. It is up to us to accept his wedding invitation, and when we accept it we must be in the right state.
Now we come to the man without a wedding garment. The wedding garment represents our heart. This man's reasons for showing up to the feast were not right. When in Covenant with God, God blesses us, but we must also seek to bless God. We cannot come to the feast just for the benefits. We cannot love God just for what he can give us. We must love God for who he is. We must give of ourselves to the one who ultimately gave everything for us. When we are in mortal sin or when we are only seeking the benefits, we are not wearing a wedding garment.
Let us examine ourselves and see where we stand. Are we wearing our wedding garments? Many are invited but few will be chosen. Many call themselves Christian, but few become other Christs.
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."
Once again we see a story representing the way God's covenant was originally rejected by those He had made it with. The people who were originally invited were the Jewish people. The King sought to bless his people by inviting them to the wedding feast of his son. It was a completely free gift, but the people either thought they had something better to do or held a grudge against the King when they had his servants put to death. The servants represent the prophets whom the Jews rejected. God calls people into covenant with him because he loves them and wants to be with them, but the gifts of grace and joy do not take effect when the people constantly turn their back on God.
The second half of the Gospel ushers in an example of the New Covenant. After the King had dealt with those who had rejected his invitation, he sent his servants (the 12 Apostles) to gather anyone they could find (Gentiles and Jews alike). All are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb, but not all will come. The Lord blesses us with his invitation. It is up to us to accept his wedding invitation, and when we accept it we must be in the right state.
Now we come to the man without a wedding garment. The wedding garment represents our heart. This man's reasons for showing up to the feast were not right. When in Covenant with God, God blesses us, but we must also seek to bless God. We cannot come to the feast just for the benefits. We cannot love God just for what he can give us. We must love God for who he is. We must give of ourselves to the one who ultimately gave everything for us. When we are in mortal sin or when we are only seeking the benefits, we are not wearing a wedding garment.
Let us examine ourselves and see where we stand. Are we wearing our wedding garments? Many are invited but few will be chosen. Many call themselves Christian, but few become other Christs.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Sunday Series: October 5, 2014
I've been noticing a theme in Mass the last few weeks, and today it was all over the place. I'll start with the responsorial psalm. "The Vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel." The word vineyard has been very prevalent in the readings of the last few weeks, especially the Gospels. What does the vineyard represent? I've heard many answers to this question: earth, the kingdom of God, the Church. In the responsorial psalm the vineyard represents the House of Israel. At the moment, this answer may not seem all that profound, but Today's Gospel sheds a whole new light on it.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
Once again Jesus is calling the leaders of the Jewish community. Every group of characters in the parable represents a part in the Jewish faith. The tenants are the religious leaders of the Jews. They were the ones who were supposed to tend to the people. The servants are the prophets. God sent a great number of prophets to the Jews, but the leaders never listened to them. So the Master (God the Father) sent his Son (Christ) to the tenants. The tenants disposed of the Son just as they did the servants. They killed him. Ironically, the pharisees and elders of the Jews saw what should be done in this case when they said that vineyard should be leased to other tenants who will give the fruit to the Master at the proper time. This is actually what happened. The Vineyard of the Lord was taken from the hands of the Chief Priests and the scribes and placed in the hands of those who would produce its fruit, the Apostles.
So what is the Vineyard? It is the Covenant. Just as the Jewish elders were leaders of the old, the Apostles were leaders in the new. The difference is that the Apostles actually produced fruit. The leaders of the Jews were prideful and selfish. All they did was for themselves. Behavior like that was not welcome in God's Covenant. God requires humility and love. Thus Christ was sent down to fulfill the Old Covenant by being a perfect example and then begin the New Covenant with him as the Cornerstone, and this has become wonderful in our eyes. If we too are to be good stewards of the Lord's Vineyard, we follow the words that St. Paul spoke to us today.
Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
Once again Jesus is calling the leaders of the Jewish community. Every group of characters in the parable represents a part in the Jewish faith. The tenants are the religious leaders of the Jews. They were the ones who were supposed to tend to the people. The servants are the prophets. God sent a great number of prophets to the Jews, but the leaders never listened to them. So the Master (God the Father) sent his Son (Christ) to the tenants. The tenants disposed of the Son just as they did the servants. They killed him. Ironically, the pharisees and elders of the Jews saw what should be done in this case when they said that vineyard should be leased to other tenants who will give the fruit to the Master at the proper time. This is actually what happened. The Vineyard of the Lord was taken from the hands of the Chief Priests and the scribes and placed in the hands of those who would produce its fruit, the Apostles.
So what is the Vineyard? It is the Covenant. Just as the Jewish elders were leaders of the old, the Apostles were leaders in the new. The difference is that the Apostles actually produced fruit. The leaders of the Jews were prideful and selfish. All they did was for themselves. Behavior like that was not welcome in God's Covenant. God requires humility and love. Thus Christ was sent down to fulfill the Old Covenant by being a perfect example and then begin the New Covenant with him as the Cornerstone, and this has become wonderful in our eyes. If we too are to be good stewards of the Lord's Vineyard, we follow the words that St. Paul spoke to us today.
Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.
The Covenant of God has been passed down to us through the Church. Through her traditions and teachings we have learned what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Here is our challenge: do it.
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