Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Some of Jesus’ parables are a little dense when it comes to understanding the message hidden within them.  But today’s parable is very clearly a judgment against the people of Israel and their religious leaders for not recognizing that Jesus comes from God.  Sometimes our own agendas can bind us from recognizing the word of the Lord right in our midst.  We set our hearts on a personal goal or way of doing things.  Jesus reminds us that we always need to leave room for the ways of God.

 

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Have you ever met a flatterer, or people pleaser? One who says what you want to hear but has no intention of following through? Or one who over-promises and under-delivers? It can be challenging to hear the words of Jesus in the parable today about such behaviors.  Despite our best intentions, it is our actions that truly mean more than our words.  There are many reason why we might over-promise, but we are reminded of another saying in the gospels, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’ ” (Matt 5:37).  This is simply good advice from Jesus the teacher.

 

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we see acts of generosity, it can be natural to expect that we might receive some of that generosity as well.  It might sound strange to hear it said that someone is generous with one group and not another.  And such is the seeming riddle of today’s parable.  God is a just and generous giver.  When we receive what we have from God, there is no room for complaint, jealousy, or envy.  Let us die to our own sense of who is just and worthy in God’s sight and leave room to be surprised by his generosity.

 

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Grudges are awful things.  But today’s gospel calls us to a higher standard.  The forgiveness we’ve experienced should motivate us to be free with forgiveness when others wrong us.  We cannot dole out forgiveness in infinitesimal pieces only to those we deem worthy.  Instead, forgiveness ought to be given freely.  We must die to the grudges, slights, rudeness, and other transgressions we’ve suffered and rise to a sense of freedom that comes through forgiving as we’ve been forgiven.  Jesus himself warns us that if we withhold forgiveness, it will be withheld from us.  And the consequences of that are severe indeed.