XXX Sunday of the Year

LOVE IN 3D

Exodus 22:20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40

Readings for the XXX Sunday of the Year

At the entrance to the harbour at the Isle of Man there are two lights. One would think that two signals would confuse the pilot. No! The pilot must keep both in line for the ship to safely enter the channel. 

It is the same with life. We need to keep the three dimensions of love—love of God, love of others, and love of self—in line; then we remain safe in the channel of life.

The Sunday readings challenge us to learn and practise these three dimensions of the “greatest commandment”.

In response to the scribe’s question—which commandment is the first of all?—Jesus gathers up the scripture of Israel in one statement. 

In the first part, he quotes the creed of Judaism, the Shema, which every Jew knew by heart and no pious Jew could disagree with this part of Jesus’ summary. Alongside this creed, Jesus places a text from Leviticus 19:18. “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 

For Jesus, it is a combination of these texts that makes for the summary and essence of the law. Religion is loving God and loving people as one loves oneself. 

Most of our reflection, reading, and preaching focus on the first two dimensions: love of God and love of others. Rarely do we think about love of self. In fact, from an early age, the overriding message we pick up is “self-love” is bad/selfish and we ought to focus on others. But the Lord is clear: Love your neighbour as yourself. 

How can I love myself? In the same way that I love others! I respect myself. I talk positively to and about myself. I look after myself and my needs—physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual. I am patient with myself. 

How shall I love my God with my whole being? How shall I love my neighbour? How will I love myself?

May the Lord strengthen us to love in 3D: God, neighbour, and self.

XXIX Sunday of the Year

DIFFERING LOYALTIES

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21

Readings for the XXIX Sunday of the Year

Two puppeteers were arguing over who should control the strings of the puppet on the stage. As they argue, one tries to wrest the strings from the other. The puppet is pulled this way and that as each puppeteer pulls the string to an arm or leg, hand, or foot.

Our varied commitments can do the same to us. Family, school/ workplace, church, government: to a varying extent, these determine the way we spend our time, energy, and resources. We feel pulled in different directions and helplessly out of control.

Who or what should take priority? The gospel encounter of Jesus with the Pharisees and the Herodians responds to this question.

The Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus a carefully-formulated and loaded question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”

The Jews resented paying this tax because it was a painful reminder that they lived under foreign rule. Plus, God was their only king; paying tax to an earthly king admitted his kingship. If Jesus said it was unlawful to pay taxes, he would be guilty of sedition; if he said it was lawful, he would stand discredited in the eyes of the Jews. 

Jesus’ response is equally loaded: “Repay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” First, there is no dichotomy between God and the many Caesars in our lives; each has its rightful place. But: God first, everything else next. Second, “repay” what belongs to God. What belongs to God? In one word: everything! 

Jesus then asks for a coin and asks: “Whose image is this?” The emperor’s image, stamped on the coin, showed that the coin belonged to him. We, stamped with the image of God, belong to him!

Jesus challenges us repay to God what is his – ourselves.

How am I going to give myself to God in the week ahead? No deductions, no exemptions!

May I allow God to tug at the strings of my heart and mind. Then, my differing loyalties will not leave me out of control; I will discover balance and equanimity.

XXVIII Sunday of the Year

FIRST CATCH THE RABBIT

Isaiah 25:6-10a; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14

Readings for the XXVIII Sunday of the Year

A nineteenth-century recipe for rabbit pie begins with the injunction: “First catch the rabbit.” The writer knew how to put first things first. 

That’s precisely what the guests in this Sunday’s gospel parable did not do!

It was Jewish custom to send out invitations and to prepare food according to the number who accepted (like the modern RSVP!). When the meal was ready, the host would send servants to summon the invitees. In the parable, the king sent servants twice to summon the guests, but they “made light of it” and went about their business. They refused to honour the invitation they had earlier accepted.

The Jews had accepted God’s invitation on Mount Sinai. They looked forward to the coming of the Messiah about which Isaiah prophesied (first reading). But when the Lord came and invited them to his banquet, they refused to honour the invitation.

Note the reasons for their refusal: they “went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” They were busy with the urgent: their livelihood. The wedding feast represents the messianic kingdom; it represents the important: salvation, eternal life. 

The guests got their priorities wrong: they left the important for the urgent; they gave up life for livelihood.

We accepted God’s invitation at our Baptism. When we choose the urgent over the important, we refuse to honour that invitation.

In the second part of the parable, a guest is thrown out because he is without a wedding garment! According to Jewish custom, the host would give the guests a wedding garment; all they had to do was to wear it.

We, who have accepted the invitation, are called wear the wedding garment: a life of justice, honesty, compassion, kindness, and love.

How do I respond to the Lord’s invitation to his banquet: do I have my priorities in order; or am I so engrossed in gathering the other ingredients for “rabbit pie” that I forget to “catch the rabbit”? Do I to wear the wedding garment?

XXVII Sunday of the Year

TENANTS, NOT OWNERS

Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Readings for the XXVII Sunday of the Year

The angel Gabriel returned from surveying the earth, and reported to God: “You own a choice piece of real estate called earth. But the tenants to whom you’ve leased it are destroying it. They have polluted your rivers; fouled the air; degraded the soil; destroyed the rain-forests… In another few years, it won’t be fit to inhabit. By any rule of sound management, you have one option.” Raising his trumpet to his lips, Gabriel asked: “Shall I sound the eviction notice?”

God said: “No, Gabriel! Not yet. You are right, but I keep thinking if I give them a little more time, they’ll quit acting like they own the place!”

The readings of today 

- portray us as tenants of God’s vineyard, and remind us not to act like we own the place. 

- highlight God’s generosity and trust: he provided everything the people needed—fertile land, hedge, winepress, tower—to produce a good vintage. 

- tell us of God’s patience: he sends his servants several times to collect the produce, and finally sends his son. 

- remind us that God’s justice will prevail: the people yielded “wild grapes” (first reading); they refused to hand-over the produce, and treated the servants and the son violently (gospel). He finally evicts the tenants: “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

We are tenants. God has given us a mission to accomplish. He has provided the means and the freedom to accomplish the mission in a most amazing “vineyard”! But we behave as if we own the vineyard…

- whether we see the vineyard as nature and environment: we destroy rain forests, cut through hills/mountains for “development”; pump in sewage and untreated waste into rivers and seas; release toxic substances into the air from vehicles and factories; waste water, fuel, and electricity.

- whether we see the vineyard as the Church and the world: we change commandments, liturgical norms, and rules of morality.

- we are intolerant of anyone questioning us; we do not want to be accountable.

Do I care for creation, or do I ruin it though my selfish and materialistic consumerism? What kind of fruit do I bear: “wild grapes” or grapes of good vintage? Do I hand over the produce to God, or do I act like I own the vineyard?