“The Last Shall Be First!”–the Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

In today’s Gospel we’ve heard those well-known and often-quoted words: “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” They were spoken by Jesus in his “Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard” (see Matthew 20:1-16a). According to the story, day laborers had exhausted themselves after working from morning to afternoon in the heat, and then they complained when those who had come later, and who had worked far less (even some for only an hour), were paid the same amount for that day’s wages. They said: “These last ones worked only an hour, and you made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat” (see verse 12). Even so, the landowner’s responded thus: “I am not cheating you . . . did you not agree to the usual daily wage . . . am I not free to do as I wish with my own money . . . are you envious because I am generous” (see verses 13-15).

As we contemplate this story, it’s important to note Jesus often used hyperbole when he was teaching. He exaggerated situations presented in the parables in order to very clearly demonstrate his radical message of salvation for all. But as we read the “Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard,” and having all of our contemporary sensibilities toward fairness and justice, we’d likely believe the laborers who worked an entire day should be paid much more than those who worked only an hour–not simply and exactly the same amount. After all, that would seem like the just thing for the owner of the vineyard to have done. But was Jesus really addressing the question of fair wages and just compensation for labor? Doesn’t it seem, at face value, we might conclude from this story Jesus had given some kind of justification to the rich and powerful to abuse their laborers? But he really didn’t advocate such at all! The parable simply offered his followers a guarantee of the fullness of grace for all people, even for those who were “latecomers” to his message of salvation for all. Converts to the faith, even those who converted on their “deathbed,” were assured a place in the Kingdom! This was Jesus’ new and revolutionary message!

The message of this Gospel was also foreshadowed by the words of Isaiah found in today’s first reading (see Isaiah 55:6-9). The Prophet proclaimed that our loving God called back-to-himself those who had sinned; he said: “God is rich in forgiveness,” and “let the sinner turn to the Lord for mercy, to our God who is generous in forgiving” (see verse 8). These words remind us that God’s love and forgiveness are equally extended to all people. And doesn’t this idea perfectly complement the message of today’s Gospel parable? God’s mercy is available even for those who fail to act quickly upon it! I believe this is precisely why Jesus said “the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  He wanted those who “came late” to have the same assurance of salvation as those who “had been there much sooner,” and he wanted those already “saved” never to think of themselves as “more worthy” than the others.

Jesus assured his followers salvation was for all! No matter at what age a person repented, turned away from sin, and became reconciled to God, he or she could receive the fullness of God’s grace! What was most important for such people was that they turned to God with all of their hearts. And so those who “worked only an hour” (i.e. the ‘latecomers’ to God’s Kingdom), were “equal” in the eyes of God to those who had been faithful for all or most of their lives. In this way, even “the last will be first!”

And so, let’s rejoice then when friend, a family member, or an acquaintance, finally joins us in the Christian way of life! May we never consider ourselves “more worthy” because we’ve always been faithful! And let’s pray for those who have not joined us! And may we always be patient with the hope that others will discover the joy we have and our faith’s promise of eternal life!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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“Seventy Times Seven!”–the Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, found in today’s Gospel, follows immediately after last week’s passage in which he challenged his disciples to treat others with great deference and respect, even if they had “sinned” against them.  Today we’ve heard Peter’s question: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive . . . as many as seven times?”  This was actually a rhetorical question (i.e., he already knew the answer), a fact illustrated by his use of the number “seven.”  Peter, and all of those who had been listening, would have understood the number “seven” to mean “perfectly” and/or “without end.”  Therefore, and to emphasize this sense of infinite forgiveness of others, Jesus replied to Peter by saying: “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times” (see Matthew 18:21-35).  In some translations of this passage, and perhaps more emphatically making the point, it reads: “not seven, but seventy times seven.”  These words, no-matter how “the math” was done, were meant to convey the most superlative sense possible about the Christian imperative to forgive others (i.e., infinity upon infinity, and to a limitless degree most unimaginable).

We are we called to be forgiving because the Father in heaven has forgiven us, and we are to treat others as we ourselves have been treated.  Therefore the words from the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others” must have very real and definitive meaning for us.  And so, if someone claiming to be a Christian receives forgiveness, but subsequently refuses to forgive others, then the grace and the peace of forgiveness, which had been imparted to that so-called Christian, would then become null and void.  We’re sure of this because Jesus warned that such unforgiving people would be treated like those committed to debtors’ prison, where such people were “handed over to the torturers until they paid back their whole debt.”  Using this analogy, Jesus said: “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or sister from your heart.”   Hence Jesus clearly taught those who failed to forgive others as they had been forgiven would be severely rebuked, and they would suffer greatly.  I truly believe we must be most attentive to this very clear admonition of Jesus; we should never take for granted the grace, the mercy, the love, and the forgiveness of God, and we must treat others as we ourselves have been treated.  If we claim to be Christians, we have no choice about embracing Jesus’ teachings on forgiveness.  That’s the deal, and it’s as simple as that!

Are you angry with someone?  Let it go!  Has someone caused harm to you?  Put it in the past!  Is the desire for vengeance preoccupying you?  Dispel the thoughts!  Do you struggle with the idea of pardoning the misdeeds and/or mistakes of certain family members or friends?  Be free of the burden!  Are resentments and bitterness toward others controlling your life?  Cast those feelings aside!  If the truth should be told, isn’t “forgiveness” actually more about “the one who forgives” than it’s about “the one who is forgiven?”  And so when we release from our lives of all of the negative feelings and energies typically associated with the lack of forgiveness, then whatever “power over us” the sin or the sinner might otherwise have had is simply driven away from our lives.  I believe the alternative (i.e., holding on to all of that non-forgiving nonsense) very much makes us vulnerable to great sufferings, and that kind of metaphorical “being handed over to the torturers,” about which Jesus warned his followers.   And who wants that?

My friends, when Jesus told his disciples to forgive others “seventy-seven times” or even as many as “seventy times seven,” he really meant what he was saying!  And so, as we strive to continue treating others, even “sinners,” with great deference and respect, let’s do so in the most superlative sense possible as we follow the Gospel imperative about forgiveness.  And then, after casting out all negative energies from our lives, and with genuine words, sentiments, and deeds, let’s continue to pray: “Our Father . . . forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others!”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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“Forgiveness and Reconciliation?”–the Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructed his disciples to treat others with great deference and respect, even if they had “sinned” against them.  He said: “If your brother or sister sins against you, then go privately and discuss the fault between only the two of you.  If he or she listens to you, you have won over your brother or sister.  If he or she does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’  If he or she refuses to listen to them, tell the church.  If he or she refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him or her as you would a Gentile or a tax collector” (see Matthew 18:15-20).  It’s clear this advice presumed a very high standard regarding the need for forgiveness and reconciliation within the life of the Christian community.  Not only would it have been a “good idea” to pardon the offenses of those who had gone astray, it was in fact an obligation demanding serious attention.  Jesus told his disciples every effort had to be made to keep unity and peace in the community.  Forgiveness and reconciliation among the members were an essential part of such communal harmony.  He also acknowledged some “sinners” ultimately might not have accepted charitable invitations to repentance, and only in such cases would they have essentially separated themselves from the community (i.e., at that point, it would have been the “sinner’s choice” not to be reconciled).

I believe these teachings about forgiveness and reconciliation clearly instruct us to be very patient and merciful, especially with those with whom we’ve had disagreements and conflicts.  And so, when we have problems with others, and for whatever reason, our first reaction as Christians ought to be a determined effort to communicate our feelings and ideas with them respectfully, privately, and confidentially; in such cases, we ought to desire to seek a “mending of ways” as soon as possible.  This is only possible if we are willing to talk with the one (or ones) with whom we’ve had a problem.  Jesus tells us this first attempt at communication and reconciliation need not involve other people, and that it is an essential first step toward such an end.

As I read these words of Jesus, I wonder how many times I’ve failed to show this kind of basic mercy and respect toward those with whom I’ve had one type of problem or another.  Isn’t it true it’s often all too easy simply “to talk about” others rather than “to talk to” them?  And so our own great sin, when we’ve had “problems” with others, might have been to gossip and to spread rumors about those with whom we’ve had disagreements, or about those whom we’ve simply not liked, or perhaps even about those who’ve just been “different” from us.  Isn’t it true it might have been far easier for us to contribute to the destruction of others’ reputations rather than to communicate with them lovingly and mercifully?

I believe the message of today’s Gospel is very relevant for us at the present time.  In this age of political polarization, extremism of every kind, the lack of charity toward immigrants, refugees and the most needy, racial unrest, and the other kinds of discrimination and hatred among people, Christians must give great witness to our genuine commitment to the value of forgiveness and reconciliation among all people.  These things start “at home,” right here in our immediate community, and with those with whom we “rub shoulders” every day!

My friends, as Christians we are always called to treat others with great deference and respect, even those who’ve “sinned against us.”  These high standards, based upon the values of mercy and patience, are rooted in our obligation to communicate our feelings with others. Therefore, may we always be inspired to be forgiving, and may we never cease in our efforts to be reconciled with those from whom we’ve been estranged.  May the words of Jesus challenge us to respect all of our fellow human beings (and all means all!), and may harmony and peace forever be our common goal!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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“But Sacrifices We Must Make!” –the Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples they would “journey” to Jerusalem, and there he would have to suffer and to die (see Matthew 16:21-27). But he also consoled them with the promise of a subsequent resurrection from the dead. In response to Jesus, Peter the Apostle expressed misgivings and grave reservations about what he had foretold. Clearly, Peter didn’t want Jesus to experience any type of suffering and/or death, but Jesus rebuked him for his lack of understanding. And he said to him: “you are thinking not like God, but rather like human beings.” At that moment, it seemed Peter had focused too much on the promised turmoil of the passing difficulties ahead, and not at all on the broader and long-range assurances of resurrection victory. Seizing on the moment, Jesus then said to all his disciples: “whoever wishes to come after me, must deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow me, for whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”  Today, and with the same urgency, I believe these words are clearly meant for us as well!

To be sure, our Christian calling includes the reality of many noble sacrifices demanded from us as we “journey” through our lives. Jesus promised such! The ways of the “world,” or “as humans think,” certainly were not part of this promise. In fact, not only did Jesus give us the ultimate example of this as he embraced the cross and died, nearly all the Apostles were eventually martyred as well. Even Peter the Apostle, who as we saw in today’s Gospel, had expressed qualms about such possibilities, also would one day be put to death by crucifixion (and just to “add insults to injury,” it’s believed the enemies of Peter crucified him upside-down as they tormented him and put him to death). Thanks be to God, the clear majority of us will never have to make such ultimate sacrifice of our lives in service to the Gospel, but sacrifices we must make! This is the promise of Jesus!

And so, as we contemplate the message of today’s Gospel, we may ask ourselves the following: As followers of Jesus, what does it mean for us “to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow him?” In what ways might we erroneously go about “wishing to save our lives” instead of correctly “losing them?” Are we tempted, like Peter the Apostle, “to think not like God, but rather like human beings?” How much confidence do we place in Jesus’ victory over sin, his desire to save us, and in the power of the resurrection, as we embrace the turmoil of the passing difficulties in our lives? And so, “for Jesus’ sake,” how do we “lose our lives” in order “to find them?” To be sure, and given the complexities of each of our individual lives, sometimes it’s not at all easy to answer these questions! But to remain faithful, and as we accept whatever sacrifices we are called to embrace during the “journey,” I believe we must continuously ponder our answers to these questions, and to others like them. And it’s a good idea to do so as we apply our answers to both the small and to the great events of our lives. I believe doing so will very much help to give us focus, a sense of purpose, and true confidence in God’s help and grace along the “journey.”

My friends, let’s try as best as we can to put our qualms to rest as we accept the crosses placed before us! Let’s put our misgivings aside as we profess our faith in Jesus and accept the demands he places upon us! Let’s not hesitate to “journey” to Jerusalem with Jesus, even if it promises difficulties and trials! Let’s not object to the large and the small sacrifices we are called to make! Above all, let’s never lose confidence in the promise of the resurrection, which will give us the fullness of life, and give purposes to all the sacrifices we’ve been called to make during the “journey” of our Christian lives! Let’s pray we will always “wish to follow Jesus, to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to remain faithful to him.” Let’s be sure that in “finding our lives” we always “wish to lose them for Jesus’ sake!” Let’s encourage each other with this message! Amen!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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