Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ex 22: 20-26, 1 Th 1: 5-10, Mt 22:34-40 Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandments, and responded by naming two, both found in the Old Testament. Jesus brought them together and made them of equal importance. Hence, we must not separate them. However, in practice we often do. [...]
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 45:1, 4-6, 1 Th 1:1-5b, Mt 22:15-21 Today’s readings insist that we must be aware that God is at work even in politicians and in those who govern countries. God is truly almighty and is able to bring about good in every situation—even when we or those who [...]
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 26: 6-10, Phil 4: 12-14, 19-20, Mt 22: 1-14 Banquets and parties-and yet the invited don’t show up. Today’s readings are about God’s invitation to you and me. Will we answer his invitation? The prophet Isaiah announced the Lord’s invitation. ‘On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make [...]
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary time Is 5: 1-7, Phil 4: 6-9, Mt 21: 33-43 Dear sisters and brothers, The Old Testament tells us that God cared for his people as a good gardener cares for his vineyard, yet they failed to produce the desired fruits. We are the new people of God, the [...]
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ez 18: 25-28, Phil 2: 1-11, Mt 28: 28-32 Dear sisters and brothers, How many times have you quickly agreed to do something and then failed to follow through? Or refuse to do something only to rethink your position later and complete the job? Both instant without follow-through and [...]
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 55: 6-9, Ph 1:20c-24, 27a, Mt 20: 1-16a Introduction-God’s people were in exile in Babylon, they were desperately depressed because they had lost everything. They were certain that they had also lost God’s love because of their sin. Today in the first reading we hear God’s prophet Isaiah [...]
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 09/13/2020 Sir 27:30-28:7, Rom 14: 7-9, Mt 18:21-35 Dear sisters and brothers, What happens within us when we don’t forgive? Let me give you an example: A lady was having a discussion with her sister about some important business matter when her well-educated daughter entered the room [...]
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 09/06/2020 Ez 33:7-9, Rm 13:8-10, Mt 18:15-20 Dear sisters and brothers, One of the most difficult things in life is correcting another person. Yes, there are people who seem always to be correcting others—but that type of person rarely has any lasting success. What the Lord God [...]
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 08/30/2020 Jr 22:19-23, Rm 12:1-2, Mt 16:13-20 A Fire In My Bones Recently a friend sent me an extremely moving YouTube video. Arrayed like a gallery of individuals in a Zoom meeting (I trust everyone knows about Zoom by now!) were thirty or forty young musicians. They were obviously [...]
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 22:19-23, Rm 11:33-36, Mt 16:13-20 Who Do You Say You Are? The question Jesus poses in today’s gospel is not a pop quiz for the disciples. Since it comes half-way through Matthew’s Gospel, at a critical turning point, we might be tempted to think Jesus is giving [...]