Our Lord Jesus was addressing the Pharisees of His time as hypocrites, because they led apparently clean lives outside but were greedy and self-indulgent on the inside.
“‘The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?” (Lk 11:39-40)
Our Lord Jesus was addressing the Pharisees of His time as hypocrites, because they led apparently clean lives outside but were greedy and self-indulgent on the inside.
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“The Lord said to her in reply, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.’” (Lk 10:41-42)
It is not difficult to get lost in the daily distractions of life, the restless churning of our everyday routines: meals to cook, bills to pay, floors to mop, errands to run...the list goes on and on. If you are like me, a usual day would start with the alarm going off at around 5:00 am. From there, each minute is carefully calculated for every task and chore I have set out to do for that day. This parable of the two sons is found only in Matthew. It cited the inflexibility and duplicity of the Jewish leaders and is directed towards them as Jesus talked to them in the temple. The vineyard as used is a metaphor for God's kingdom. The two sons, represent two segments of Judaism with the first son stands for sinners within Israel like tax collectors and prostitutes who, despite their initial negative response, ultimately answer favorably to the message of Jesus. The second son clearly represents Jesus' listeners, the religious leaders of the Jews, the recipients of God's revelation to his people. It is a message to which they have set themselves apart as God’s chosen leaders to the chosen people. But when God's plan is brought to its fulfillment, in the preaching of John the Baptist, they refuse to accept it. Trapped in this discourse, they acknowledged their sinfullness in choosing the first son as more acceptable. Let’s look at this irony, the teachers of Israel excluded themselves from the kingdom of God by their own admission while the reformed outcasts will enter God's kingdom.
“There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4)
It was an overcast, rainy day when my father was driving home after buying farm implements from the neighboring city. He skidded and lost control of his jeep and plunge into a cliff. He was killed instantly. “You are my hiding place... whenever I am afraid I will trust in you.” What a powerful song! When David wrote Psalm 17, he had pretty much the same thought in mind. He was seeking protection from his enemies who were pressing in all around him. So he prayed:
“Show your wonderful mercy, you who deliver with your right arm those who seek refuge from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” (Ps17:7-8) Ever watch a marathon? Despite all the entrants, there is always just one winner (ok, two or more if you consider the many categories – men’s, women’s, wheelchair, etc.). There are many who train just as hard as the eventual winners, sacrificing so much… and join even though they know that they have no shot at all at winning any of the official prizes
“Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.”(Luke 6:19)
We all have experienced many trials in our lives, significant or otherwise. Some are light but some are so heavy that they can take a toll on our mental, emotional and spiritual state of well-being. We all try to balance the hectic lives that we live with demanding jobs, marriage and relationships, financial and moral obligations, extended family and friends, health issues, loneliness, etc. and we find it harder and harder to find the peace and happiness that we crave. People try to find that elusive happy state by pursuing the worldly things in life only to find in the end that these are not the answer. That has been my journey. "For I will refresh the weary soul; every soul that languishes I will replenish." (Jer 31:25)
Before my renewal, my life had been plain, empty and without depth. Though I am blessed with a loving family, something seemed to be missing in our relationship. Sunday Mass is the highlight of our weekends, however, during those endless Masses, I find the scripture readings as well as the homily difficult to grasp. Oftentimes, I become restless and inattentive to the word of God. I would like to share about my experience in putting together a Confirmation Retreat for a Parish, where I collaborated with BLD Singles, Youth, and Liturgical Ministries. We had 24 candidates whose ages ranged from 13-15 years old.
“Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?...we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness. At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” Hebrew 12:7-11
Why will God let people suffer hardship to achieve discipline? When I recall the hardships in my life – my spouse’s infidelity, my child’s rebellion, my stresses at work, and my friend’s betrayal- they also reminded me of the pain, humiliation, frustration, anger and desire for revenge that I felt in my heart. |
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