Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, October 4, 2020- (EPISODE: 254)

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, October 4, 2020
(EPISODE: 254)

Readings for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9+12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20. "The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel"
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:6-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. John 15:16). Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord. Because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
GOSPEL: Matthew 21:33-43


Image Credit: shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID: 1625826427. Heart shaped stone.By Kostsov
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, October 4, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-27a-episode-254  (EPISODE: 254)

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*Prologue by Fr Paul Kelly:
This Sunday, the Twenty-seventh Sunday in year A, lands on the 4^th October in 2020.
As many would know, that is usually the feast day of the great Saint Francis of Assisi.  A wonderful example of discipleship and simplicity, and one of my favourite saints.  But when feasts such as his land on a Sunday, the Sunday has precedence and overrides it.  Very few feasts have higher priority than a Sunday.  As important as Saint Francis' life is, the preeminent feasts are the Lord's feast days which are celebrated every Sunday of the year. I am sure our humble saints are perfectly happy to take second place to Our Lord, as he willingly did all his life. 

["'gospel' values included in the readings this weekend: that God is long suffering, and patient. God trusts us, and gives us the blessing and gift and responsibility of autonomy – in the hope and trust, that we will use this freedom and discretion well and only for good. God lovingly desires to give us what we need, patiently calls us back to obedience. Of course, time ends up running out, sooner or later. God expects us to bear the fruits of the Kingdom of Heaven]
This gospel says a lot of really good things about our God and some very disappointing things about our human response to God's generosity and patience.

The image of the unsatisfactory vineyard would be a very familiar one to the people of Israel, as shown by the first reading. The Lord puts all this love and care into building for his people a fruitful and life-giving environment, and what he gets back is "sour grapes."

What causes bitter grapes is too much acid and not enough sugar. The fruit might be too small and too crowded or just be a wild variety of grape. It is a fitting image because if we foment bitterness, resentment, harshness, negativity and a lack of cordiality in our lives, and if we crowd out our time and energy with too many competing priorities, or if we allow pride and willfulness to be our way, it will produce a bitter and pitiful harvest. The fruits will not be good.

We see that God is extremely loving. The owner of the land did not just give them an empty parcel of land and said, "there you go, now build a vineyard and give me the fruits of it." Rather, the Master plants it himself, fences it off, builds accommodation and security and then builds the wine-press for the fruits to be processed.

The landowner is not a control freak. He hands over the vineyard and does not stand over them or set up an oppressive system to make sure they do the right thing. He trusts his tenants and entrusts the job to them and then steps back from it to give them time to do their job unhindered.

The Master is extremely patient. He is certainly not ruthless. After the very first messenger was sent and rejected, he would have been entitled to destroy the wicked tenants immediately, but instead, he continues to give them the benefit of the doubt, (Perhaps there has been a miscommunication. Perhaps there is a reason for this shocking behaviour). The master is being more than reasonable. He sends a long line of messengers to ask for what is his. There is no acid or bitterness to be found in God, his fruits are all patience, forbearance and compassion. He is very long-suffering, giving many chances for change and growth, but in the end, he must have the fruits of the vineyard as he deserves.

The master spares nothing. He even risks his most precious treasure, his beloved son, and sends him to sort this out peacefully. As the great Easter hymn says, "To ransom a slave, God gave away his own son!" What an astounding act of love and unearthly generosity to his ungrateful people.

Finally, when their rebellion and arrogance is no longer in doubt, the Master demands the fruits be given, and again acts prudently, lovingly and justly – this cannot go on like this….., And so, he hands over the vineyard to people who will care for it and use it as intended?

In many different ways, and also through the people we meet, God sends us all sorts of invitations and opportunities…., inviting us to widen our hearts and adjust our attitudes? Meanwhile, with God's help, we continue working peacefully, positively and respectfully; and with grateful hearts.
Fr. Paul Kelly   
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Fr Peter (homily):
27^th Sunday Ordinary Times Year A - 2020

In biblical writing the portrayal of the chosen people as the vineyard of the Lord was a familiar prophetic image, and we have an example of it is today's first reading, Isaiah's "Song of the Vineyard"

"My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.

He dug the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted choice vines in it"

With all the care and cultivation, he lavishes on his vineyard, the owner has a lively expectation of a good yield at the harvest time; but all he receives from his labours are sour grapes. In his disappointment he turns the vineyard into a wasteland, knocking down its walls, leaving it pruned, undug and overgrown. The vineyard, Isaiah explains, "Is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant".

In today's Gospel Matthew borrows some ideas from Isaiah's Song but alters the central imagery: Israel is no longer the vineyard itself but tenant farmers working for their landlord. Features of the parable reflect conditions of life in rural Galilee: it was common for the land to be owned by absentee landlords, who would collect their rent in kind from the tenant farmers at harvest time. The lengthy absence of the landlord, alongside the harsh economic climate of the country often led to difficulties between landlord and tenant, sometimes leading to assaults on the agents sent to collect the rent.

To those listening to this parable their first thoughts were of the arrogance and stupidity of the tenants of the vineyard. To think that the owner of the vineyard would have forfeited his property, the development he had initiated and his resources to those tenants, after the violence, death and grief they had caused. Surely their greed had overtaken any common sense they may have had! Not even intelligent greed. It was plain enough to the Pharisees. To Jesus 'they answered, He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants.

           And yet while seeing the ignorance and stupidity of the original tenants, they were blind to their own incompetence. How could the Pharisees possibly have expected to hold on to their tenancy, the kingdom of God, if they continued to reject the servants and Son of the 'Owner' of the Kingdom? They did not realise that the parable was really about them.

           This of course was nothing new! Isaiah in his time had found a similar situation: 'the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.' Greed and short-sightedness had previously blinded others to the truth of the relationship between God and God's people.

           As a people, have we changed very much, or learnt from human (salvation) history?

           In our greed and short-sightedness, are we blind to the continued 'bloodshed' which is a result of injustice, and to cries of distress, which continue to result from a lack of integrity? How many more servants of the 'Owner' must be seized and suffer violence, and how many more sons and daughters must die, before all our eyes are opened in our tenancy of the kingdom of God?

We are the Lord's vineyard, gifted, and planted by God. His gifts are given for a reason. WE are expected to produce good fruit. If we do not we are rejecting Jesus, misusing the gifts we have been given. WE are gifted people as members of Christ's body, the church. Our gifts should be placed at the disposal of the Church. If we keep them to ourselves, we diminish the work of the community we belong to and believe in.
Matthew clearly uses the parable addressed to the chief priests and the elders, as a summary of salvation history. The landlords stand for the succession of the prophets God has sent to Israel, only to see them treated with disdain and violence.

The son is clearly a figure of Jesus himself, dragged out of Israel to be murdered. Jesus is not just another of the prophets, but God's own son. The punishment of leasing the vineyard to other tenants clearly indicates Matthew's though that the kingdom of God will be granted to the Gentiles, who will be expected to deliver the produce.

This parable speaks to us about the patience of God: when his servants are killed he sends more and more in the hope that people will turn from their evil ways. Even when these are killed, he still hopes his beloved son will make these people change their way. Jesus is God's last appeal, his final challenge. Depending on our response to him, judgment is then made.

If we are now the tenants, then we are subject to God's expectations of us and subject to his judgement as well. God looks to us for the fruits of love and faith and obedience: he expects that we will deliver forgiveness mercy and justice.

Today's parable has its own questions to ask of us: are these the fruits we produce.
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References:
homily:  - fr peter Dillon

prologue - Fr Paul W. Kelly

Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Matthew. Part II. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press].

Image Credit: shutterstock licensed image: stock illustration ID: 1625826427. Heart-shaped stone.By Kostsov.


Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, October 4, 2020)  (EPISODE: 254 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{gentleness and peace to you}}

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is full of love and mercy. And so, as weprepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us acknowledge our sins.
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God's kingdom: Lord, have mercy// You come in word and in sacrament to strengthen us and make us holy: Christ, have mercy//You will come again in glory with salvation for your people: Lord, have
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: own preface
Various Needs and Occasions . IV
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: 4 )
(pre+post variation: 2)
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{I gratefully acknoweldge and give thanks to God for your prayers at this time of prayer and reflection upon our God.}

Go in peace.(glorifying the Lord by your life)

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers.

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

[ Production -  KER -  2020]

May God bless and keep you.
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Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 27, 2020. (EPISODE: 253)

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 27, 2020
(EPISODE:253)

Readings for Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9. "Remember your mercies, O Lord."
SECOND READING: Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 10:27). Alleluia, alleluia! My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me.
GOSPEL: Matthew 21:28-32
 
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. stock illustration ID: 461101012 Parable of the Two Sons: obedient and disobedient.  By askib
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – including readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 27, 2020, by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-26a-episode-253/s-XpmJ9T4JU11  (EPISODE: 253)
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Prologue: (Fr Paul). [Gospel values included in this weekend's readings: Doing the will of the Father is much more important merely giving God lip service. Also, God is not unjust, even if God's ways are unlike ours.]
 
I think that today's gospel, although very short, is really key teaching in Christ's gospel.  It goes to the heart of what Our Lord was doing and saying.
 
Jesus taught on several occasions about the danger of a mere outward observance of religion.
 
Much more important, (and ultimately the only thing that really matters), is that one is faithful to the truth of God's message by DOING God's will, irrespective of whether one SEEMS to be living up to the message or not. 
 
Appearances can (so often) be quite deceiving.
 
 This parable of the two sons – on disobedient and the other obedient, is essential.
 
St Paul picks up on this same theme in his famous and popular first letter to the Corinthians 12:31 "… If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels but do not have love, I am merely a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the power of prophecy, and understand all mysteries of the universe, and If I had all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
 
This teaching is so central to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux who wrote that she took no comfort from praise, and likewise, experienced little distress from criticism.   She knew, as in the gospel, that a person could be praised for an action that appears charitable, whilst all the time, inwardly, (unknown to others), the person's motive is actually not consistent with God's ways…   And, likewise, a person might be motivated by utter kindness, but their actions are mistaken for selfishness and malice. The message appears clear; we are to do what is right and loving, in imitation of Our Lord's generous kindness, irrespective of how other's might judge it.  We are to act lovingly and justly and humbly even in situations where appearances are deceptive.  We are invited to gently brushing aside both criticisms and compliments, in favour of standing judged by God alone, as to how well and truly we loved. Only God can judge this, no matter how well we pride ourselves in being good judges of character.  Only God can truly see into the heart and mind of his creations and see what truly exists within us. We strive to avoid jumping to conclusions about people's motives.  The motives of others, along with their inner heart, are ultimately only fully known to God alone. We know this intuitively but we often find it hard to put into practice.
 
Let us ask the Lord to help purify our inner life… and make our inner attitudes match our outward words and actions; so that everything we do, in thought, word and action, be motivated by a true love of God. And Love of neighbours as ourselves….   (Fr. Paul Kelly)
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The following is a homily by Fr Peter Dillon:

In 1995 I was privileged to be able to host the then Australian Governor-General, Sir William Deane, for an entire day, visiting many of the welfare centres of Brisbane. Apparently every few months he would travel to various parts of the country in a non-official capacity and meet some of the ordinary people of Australia. At the St Vincent De Paul centre in South Brisbane, he introduced himself to some of life's real characters as "Bill" and he sat and talked with them for ages. Very few knew who they were talking with. At the end of the day, I thanked him for his time to which he replied, "They were the ones who gave up their time to talk with me. They shared with me a valuable gift". He said he couldn't do his job if he didn't know people from all circumstances of life. I remember thinking at the time, "how Christ-like", and thinking now "How Francis-like".

Jesus made it quite clear to his followers that he wasn't just sent to the sensible and comfortable, but rather to the margins of society, where he spent most of his time. He didn't care about who they were, so much as what they needed. He knew people were watching and judging him, but the right people were learning from him. Jesus was highlighting the difference between being seen to be good and doing good things for the right reasons.

The parable of the two sons is as a parable of saying and doing (the difference between sayers and doers is a favourite one in Matthew) Practise what you preach! One son is respectful and polite but does not go. He is a friendly 'She'll be right' do-nothing guy. The other is disrespectful, disobedient but changes his mind and goes. Harassed as all busy people are. If you want something done, give the job to a busy person.

The parable reminds us that the gospel must be preached to sinners and outcasts. A self-confident religious establishment is not the goal of evangelism. This congregation does not want simply to clone itself. The gospel is meant to confront, challenge, change - it demands acceptance or rejection. The public sinners knew about rejection. They wanted acceptance and were prepared to embrace God's unexpected gift of unconditional love and forgiveness.

In his reply to his own question Jesus identifies the two sons. The son who refused but repented stand for the tax collectors and prostitutes who complied with Gods' wishes that they turn away from sin, while the other son stands for the priests and scribes who maintain the outward appearance of piety but without any real devotion to the will of God.

The son whose word was "no" but whose action became "yes" is held out as the one who did he fathers will. The story doesn't tell us why he changed his mind or what the change cost him, only that his generosity of spirit had the last word. In time he caught up with the best of what was in him. He was late in doing his father will, but not too late.

Perhaps the greatest model of saying & doing is Mary. The young uneducated village woman of Nazareth. She is not easily led. Her initial response to the angel is 'How can this be?' Yet she accepts the reassurance of the angel that she would be the Theotokos, the Mother of the Lord. 'I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me as you say.'


God never forces himself on us, never compels us to say yes. God waits for our free-response: 'I am the servant of the Lord' (a free commitment)
What was the grumbling son dealing with when something was asked of him and he finally was moved to action. Guilt?  Fear of reprisal? Duty? Love for his Father remembering all that had been done for him? He allows this difficult process of growth to begin. The other son excludes this journey by a too easy, almost rehearsed response

Let it be done to me: this response always involves a change. Leave where you are and what you are doing and go into the vineyard. And yes, go with your unresolved questions and doubts, your anger even at God, allow the work of Salvation to make things clear.
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References:
HOMILY:  FR PETER DILLON

Prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly

The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898)].

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. stock illustration ID: 461101012 Parable of the Two Sons: obedient and disobedient.  By askib


Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, September 27, 2020)  (EPISODE: 253 )

The Lord be with you.
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{{Goodness and faithfulness to you all}}

My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, - so let us pause and reflect upon our sins, so as to rejoice in Gods loving mercy.
You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy.// You came to call sinners:Christ, have mercy. //You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us:Lord, have mercy.//
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary VIII
Eucharistic Prayer III
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
(theme variation: 3)
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise and reflection upon our loving God.}

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.  

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

"Quiet Time."  Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 
[ Production -  KER -  2020] 

May God bless and keep you. 
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Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A – Sunday, September 20, 2020. (EPISODE: 252)

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A –
Sunday, September 20, 2020
(EPISODE: 252)

Readings for 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A

FIRST READING: Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18. "The Lord is near to all who call him."
SECOND READING: Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (cf. Act 16:14b). Alleluia, alleluia! Open our hearts, O Lord. To listen to the words of your Son.
GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16a
 
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 556563751. the group photographed while picking grapes on the 23 of February 2010 in Robertson, South Africa. By LongJon  
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – including readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 20, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-25a-episode-252/s-vuHyWSCcEfF  (EPISODE: 252)
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Prologue: [ some of the gospel values that shine out this weekend is the universal brotherhood and sisterhood of all humans;  and also, God is generous and loving and gives people what they need. meanwhile, Envy and resentment are corrosive in any community"].

When people are deciding what activities to put their energies and priorities into, it seems a familiar thing to ask the question....."What's in it for me?" ...... "What will I get out of this?"  However, this doesn't work for everyone.

In our world, there are many people who are severely disadvantaged and in need. And all things are sadly not equal.  In a world where far too many people  only receive something if they can give something of equal value back, there are those who are in a dire situation; because they are so poor;  so disadvantaged, that they cannot benefit anyone else – They have nothing valued by others –(in a monetary sense),  that they can give, and so they miss out.
They do not fit into a system based on near-equal "give and take" - and so are left dangling precariously  on the edge.  

In the midst of the ongoing crisis of the covid-pandemic,  I heard someone on the news the other week

.."After all, we are not merely an economy, we are a community," .... 
That is a very timely reminder!....

Jesus went out to the margins and searched for these people and made special effort to ensure that they too were very much included in his Kingdom.  This is what the generous landowner is doing.   The workers who were left without any day's work, at the eleventh hour, (still a term we use today), these people still needed to eat, and feed their family. If no one employed them that day, they and their families would have gone without a day's food. The landowner knew this and was compassionate and kind. He also knew that his harvest is urgent and plentiful and the labourers few, so he gave them what they needed -- a day's food. Not that they 'earnt' a day's pay, but that they NEEDED a day's pay – living as they were on just enough to get them by, one day at a time.  And in any case, when it comes to God's gifts, none of us have really EARNED God's favour and love, it is freely and generously given and it is offered to all.

Jesus wants us to have that same generosity and welcome to others around us. They too are welcome because God is loving, forgiving and generous to them too, just as God treats us.

What a wonderful and quite revolutionary attitude.  A world-changing attitude.

The grumbling workers have lost sight of the point. The work of the Kingdom is urgent and important, and the labourers are very few, the harvest plentiful… in fact, it's more than plentiful…. The harvest God intends is that everyone (absolutely everyone) be included as part of God's kingdom…. so there is no time for hesitation….  Everyone is needed……... all are called….

How many of life's daily hurts, disappointments and turmoils really come from the fact that we have harboured wrong assumptions, unreal expectations and flawed ways of thinking? ……  How many arguments have resulted from envy and resentment and not from true need?

To summarise this gospel…  a writer once said…. "the world asks, HOW MUCH did the landowner give?   But Jesus invites us to ask a much better and far more important question: "WHY did the landowner give as he did?"

The answer is, because God is generous and caring. Are we, as the parable asks, envious because our God is extremely generous?  Surely, God can deal as he wants with his own. Why cannot give to people what they need, not what they deserve.

God gives us what we NEED, not so much what we WANT, (and often, - to be honest-, there is a huge difference between wants and needs). And Jesus asks us to do the same for others.  This parable invites us to see not with the eyes of a day labourer who, in this example, has no real concern for the project they were working on, but rather to live an invested partner; embracing and owning the vision of the landowner, who wants to achieve a rich harvest and share it with everyone.
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25th - Sunday Ord Time - Year A – Homily by Fr Peter Dillon:

  A Rabbinic story is told of a king who went to his vineyard and was im­pressed by the industri­ous­ness of one of his workers in par­ticular. He gave him the day off after two hours. The other workers who had to complete their 12 hour day complained when he got the same pay at the end of the day. The King an­swered: 'But he did more in 2 hours than you did in 12!

  This story makes sense to us. We see some justifica­tion for it. However, in today's Gospel Jesus tells a different story. His is not about MERIT but about GRACE (God's generous love). This is the hallmark of the kingdom of God.

  The rather challenging message is that we will not enter the kingdom of God by in­sisting on our rights and merits but only by relying on God's free gift of grace. This might appear disappointing to someone who can claim that they have never missed a Sunday Mass and said the Rosary every day. Could it be that God might offer the same reward to those who never darken the door? The issue is with the word "reward". Salvation is not the prize for a good effort, but a gift better appreciated by those who have maintained a close connection with God each day of their lives. Like all relationships; if we don't nurture and encourage it then is offers little or no satisfaction. The reward, if we insist on using that term, is that the faithful worker has had the benefit of the closeness of God throughout their life and not at the last minute.

  This richness of this parable is that it may be read and understood on three different levels.

  1) the words and actions of the historical Jesus - Jesus teaches how God offers the mystery of the kingdom to all freely and not ac­cording to what people de­serve.

  2) the church's life at the time of Matthew's community: Church is dealing with the resentment of some members in the mixed Christian community of southern Syria and Palesti­ne, where Jewish Christians often looked down on the Gentile Christians. (the Johnny-come-latelies, not as deserving)

  3) the framework in which it is placed by the author of the Gospel. Its setting here is the paradoxical re­versal of values that the coming of God's kingdom brings to life. The last, the persecuted, the des­pised, the outcasts, the ones that appear unworthy and without merit, become the first to receive the reward of God, the treasure of heaven.

  The apparent unjust action of the landowner is meant to shock us into a deeper awar­eness of God's goodness - and to effect a change in our own attitudes:

  Albert Camus said: 'Too many people have decided to do without generosity in order to practise charity'.

  The God of surprises: An unpleasant surprise for the workers who were hoping to get more. Pray that we will be able to appreciate the paradoxical reversal of values that the coming of God's kingdom brings to life.
  The standard of natural justice is violated by this parable. Natural to assume that those who work longer hours should be paid more than those who work for shorter hours.

In fact this is the basic principle used in wage fix­ing. However, the parable converts natural justice to generosity on the part of the landowner who decides to pay those who work shorter hours the same pay at the end of the day as those who worked the full day. God's generosity is incomprehen­sible and can create a state of envy in those who claim they have their rights. No one has any right over God's generosity, it is a free gift. It is because of the gratuity of God that all of us are able to be the children of God. Comparisons only lead to competition which in turn prevents us from acknowledging our thanks for even being considered in the first place. In our competitive world, the parable serves as a powerful lesson for us to learn how God does not want us to be towards each other.

  This Parable makes little sense in an age of arbitration, contract labour and industrial awards. It de­stroys the principle of 'A fair day's work for a fair day's pay. Remember this is a parable, a story which is intended to tell us some­thing about the coming reign of God. God is not bound by the quid pro quo rules of recompense. God's gifts are spontaneous, overflowing and unmerited. We cannot earn our salvation; we cannot make a watertight contract which predetermines the conditions of the award. We cannot ex­clude others who do not share our contract. Salvation is a gift from God, given freely, sponta­neously and generously. Per­haps we can see ourselves in the labourers hired at dif­ferent times during the day. At times we are only there 'by the skin of our teeth', aware that God's love and mercy is the only important reality. Our anxiety about our salvation must be re­placed by an attitude of trust and reliance on God's mercy and forgiveness. Isa­iah reminds us of the diffi­culty of challenging the ways of the Lord:

'Yes, the heavens are as high above the earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts.'

All that we can do is 'seek the Lord while he is still to be found', dedicating ourselves to living always in his presence.
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References:
Homily: Fr Peter Dillon

Prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly

Mark Link.  Vision. Praying Scripture in a contemporary way. Year a

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed ID: 556563751. group photographed while picking grapes on the 23 of february 2010 in Robertson,South Africa. By LongJon 


Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, September 20, 2020)  (EPISODE: 252 )
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Goodness and kindness to you all}}

Coming together as brothers and sisters, with confidence let us ask the Fathers forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion
option two on the cards/ Have mercy on us, O Lord./ For we have sinned against you./ Show us, O Lord, your mercy. And grant us your salvation.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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PREFACE: own preface
Various Needs and Occasions . IV
Communion side.  pwk:  RH
(theme variation: 2)
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{thank you for your company as we have given thanks and praise to our God.}

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.  

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 

[ Production -  KER -  2020] 

May God bless and keep you. 
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Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A – Sunday, September 13, 2020. (EPISODE: 251)

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A –
Sunday, September 13, 2020
(EPISODE: 251)

Readings for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
FIRST READING: Sirach 27:30 28:7
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12. "The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger and rich in compassion."
SECOND READING: Romans 14:7-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 13:34). Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.
GOSPEL: Matthew 18:21-35
 
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 1443376325. ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 23, 2018: Forgive us our debts - the parable of the unforgiving servant, relief on the door of the Grossmunster ("great minster") church in Zurich, Switzerland. By Zvonimir Atletic
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – including readings, prayers and reflections for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, September 13, 2020 by clicking this link here:   https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ordinary-24a-episode-251  (EPISODE: 251)
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Prologue:  The gospel value;  "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!" "The Golden rule," and the principle on which Our Lord's parable is based has had such a profound effect on not only Christianity, but also legal and ethical systems throughout the world.
 
In some ways the Golden rule is common sense and simply about consistency, justice and fairness, and yet, even now the world cries out for this principle to be applied evenly.    

This gospel is given by Our Lord as a warning that we must be constantly on our guard. God has forgiven us completely for things we could not possibly hope to repay; and we are duty-bound in gratitude and compassion, to share that graciousness, forgiveness and charity that God gives to us, to others around us.
 
The other major problem is that some people just don't seem to see those around them as their brothers and sisters in Christ, or (at the very least), fellow citizens in the same commonwealth for common good… so they act with disregard for anyone but themselves and their nearest-and-dearest.
 
Jesus rejects this approach. He reminds us, if we do good to those who love us, what difference does that make, even the pagans and the sinners do that… Our Lord is preaching universal fraternity and goodwill to all…. Because we are truly ALL God's children…
 
In an act of astounding generosity….. the master, in this parable, not only gives the wicked servant time to start to repay the impossible debt, but he forgives the debt entirely, out of compassion and mercy. Based on the value of the debt mentioned in this parable, He wipes 16,000 years or so of debt from the face of the earth. The master is hoping that this act of kindness will sink deep into the heart of the debtor and be passed on in a new way of acting and living. But then this sad and miserable servant, with an astoundingly hard heart, goes out and does not do the same to a fellow servant who has a debt to him that was actually possible to repay. It might take 100 days of pay, but it is manageable given an extended amount of time…. It is pathetic. This servant shows no empathy, no connection to others. He does not identify himself with the feelings and plight of others. He does not see this poor fellow servant as brothers in similar need. He cannot see that he himself was just like the person (actually so much worse), bowing before him, begging for time to repay a debt.
 
It is sad and quite frankly bewildering.  This kind of attitude makes the world a meaner and nastier place, and is the cause of so much suffering. It is so unnecessary and opposite to the essence of the gospel.
 
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is such a central quality in the Kingdom of God, that Our Lord even incorporates it into the Great Prayer he taught his disciples to recite: "Forgive us our sins, according to how we forgive others." (or to put it another way, "Lord, don't forgive us our sins unless we forgive others who hurt us." It is sobering stuff that we pray every day.
 
Saint Paul confirms this in the second reading. We live now for God and not for ourselves. Ego, hurt pride and moral outrage are barriers to reconciliation, understanding, and healing. We must let go of pride and entitlement, and a sense of moral outrage, and open our hearts generously and "self-forgettingly." Then we are beginning to think and feel the love that is God's very nature.
 
Let us continue to foster that awareness that we are all in communion with one another with the One God… and what we do to others, we are taken as doing to God….
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It has been said that a truly rare thing is a voice of common sense in the Church.  We have plenty of scholars who will tell us of rules and rituals, of interpretations and prophecies. But common sense is not so plentiful.  We find it today in our first reading in Jesus Ben Sirach.  A little research tells us he was a married man with a family, well-travelled, familiar with business affairs and administration. A foreign diplomat for Israel. Above all, a person who from childhood had been devoted to the pursuit of wisdom and holiness. A person with no axe to grind, no pet theories to develop, happy to harmonize the best of the old with the best of the new. A person who believed in forgiving enemies and was especially sensitive to the needs of the poor and helpless.

Later on in his life dedicated himself to passing on his acquired wisdom to the young: he said, 'showing no pity for a man like himself, how can he then plead for his own sins '.  

Two centuries earlier than Christ he anticipates the thinking of Christ. His common sense led him to know a loving and merciful God: again he says : God of all things, the doer of great deeds everywhere, the God who has exalted us since our conception and has always shown us love and mercy.

He believed forgiveness of others as a condition of disposing us to divine forgiveness. He leaps beyond the traditional Jewish law of retaliation (eye for an eye, tooth for tooth) which really meant that you may take no more than an eye for an eye... But they excluded Ben Sirach from their Scriptures because they were not ready to hear this teaching.

His book translated into Greek by his grandson was known as Ecclesiasticus, or the Church's book, because the Christian church accepted it as part of the Scripture but the Jews did not.   Which is a great entrée into Jesus' parable of the unforgiving servant.

But let's clarify something before we proceed.

10,000 talents was equivalent to about $10 million in today's money. No small pickings. Yearly tribute to Caesar for the region of Galilee in 4BC was 200 talents = only 2% of the sum owed in the parable.

In the Ancient Near East 10,000 was the highest number used in counting and the talent the largest denomination of currency.

Therefore, the sum owed was like the national debt.

   The second servant, however, owed about $20. Sin is a 'debt' beyond our human capacity to repay. Nothing we can do can ever repay for the transgression of Adam, yet through the sacrifice of Christ. S even though Christ died for us while we were still sinners. So our only response is that our behaviour towards others must be marked by that same generous mercy and forgiveness.   From the heart: the one who forgives has learned the lesson of grace that comes with the forgiveness God bestows. Only real love can forgive. Those in need of forgiveness should not have to come to us. Like Jesus, we are to seek them out. He came to us in our sin.

   Forgiveness is a distinguishing mark of the Christian community. There is no limit to the forgiveness that we can and must show. In this part of the Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus instructing his disciples about the relationships that should exist within the Church. The parable reminds us that we have all been forgiven so often by our loving God. We have no right to withhold forgiveness from our sisters and brothers. In fact the point is clearly made; we can lose God's forgiveness if we withhold it from others. God gives it freely, he expects us to share it freely from the heart. FORGIVE is Jesus' great message to his Church.
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References:
Homily:  Fr Peter Dillon

Prologue: Fr Paul W. Kelly
 
Bergant, D. and Fragomeni, R. (2001). Preaching the new lectionary. Year A. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press.
 
DeBona, G. (2013). Between the Ambo and the altar. Year A. 1st ed. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, pp.246-249

Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 1443376325. ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 23, 2018: Forgive us our debts - the parable of the unforgiving servant, relief on the door of the Grossmunster ("great minster") church in Zurich, Switzerland. By Zvonimir Atletic

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A  (Sunday, September 13, 2020)  (EPISODE: 251 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{Kindness and grace to you all}}

As we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery, let us admit our failings and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.  Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary VI
Euch prayer III
Communion side.  pwk:  LH
(Theme variation: 1)
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{Thanks for joining us for this time of prayer and reflection}

Go forth, the Mass is ended.

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Archive of homilies and reflections:  http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email:  paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead:  https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection"  - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants  — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989,  and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009,  The Grail - Collins publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful -   " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'.   E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).

Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" -  By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria,  Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.  

- "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - in memory of  William John Kelly -     Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly.  Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer.  Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. 

May God bless and keep you. 
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