Prayer: Psalm 23:6

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

Prayer: Sidney Callahan

Mary speaks for all those who have been lowly, on the outside, at the bottom, colonized, suppressed, and totally outside of the halls of the princes and power wielders.

Prayer: Robert Bellarmine

Be wise, my soul, and trust in God alone, cling to God and cast your cares on God.

Prayer: Hippolytus

Christ, like a skillful physician, understands human weakness. He loves to teach the ignorant, and the erring he turns again to his own true way. He is easily found by those who live by faith; and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 18, 2011
Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16

           Isaiah was spot on when he captured the Lord’s words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” His words are helpful to remember as we hear the difficult Gospel parable about the generous landowner’s hiring practices. In the tale, vineyard laborers are hired at various times throughout the day for the same wage. Since we value hard work, we sympathize with the early laborers who, after toiling long and hard under the hot sun, do not get a higher wage or bonus. It seems fair that those who bear the brunt of the work are accordingly rewarded. We want what is fair and just and our social justice efforts arise from these deeply held values. This reading challenges the correctness of our assumptions.

          Jesus is using this story to tell the religious authorities that newer converts to the faith are welcome to receive the everlasting promises, even though they have not kept the Torah or religious observances as they did. Admittance to the faith is based upon belief and the good works that arise from these positions, not past performance, hours worked, or production quotas. Jesus is revealing something peculiar about God – overarching compassion and inclusion for everyone.

          If we dissect the parable, we see important qualities in God’s character. God is continually searching for believers (laborers) to come to the vineyard of abundance and plenty. God’s justice is inclusive. It extends beyond fairness. It is a concrete expression of “Give us this day our daily bread.” In other words, God wants to provide everyone with an adequate wage to feed their families. Generosity and justice, mercy and compassion are the new order of the day. It creates an environment in which the poor and weak can share in God’s beneficence just like their neighbors who fare better in life. More equitable relationships can be formed and broken bonds can be restored. The former human standards, which are often good and fair to many, no longer cut it because they disenfranchise others. The kingdom of God is a better place to be than the kingdom of humans.

          This parable challenges us to change our line of sight. Instead of looking into the past and glorifying what we have done, we are to look to the future to see the remarkable possibilities for more enhanced human relationships. Ironically, we sometimes do not want to see another do well or to get equal status or recognition, and at the same time, we think we ought to get more notice and honor. We know we are special and we don’t want to be overlooked. The same dynamic occurs with our neighbor. Through God’s example we can discover the unique value of all peoples as they are also invited into the joy of the kingdom.

          Let's remember this is a story to highlight God's character in dealing with us. The emphasis is not focused on in inequitable distribution, but rather God's promised and imminent care of each of us. God wants us to enjoy all we need. It helps us to orient our attention to God as the provider of these wages; it helps us refrain from becoming greedy or acting as the alpha male to take a well-fought place among society. When we turn our attention back to God we become grateful to the one who gives us what we want and need. Our response will never be dissatisfaction; it can only be one of overflowing gratitude.


Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: In Ezra, King Cyrus of Persia proclaimed that every person who is willing may go up to Jerusalem to build the house of the Lord and adorn it with jewels. The generosity of neighbors was exceedingly great. King Darius issued an order to let the governor and elders of the Jews continue to work on the house of God - to rebuild it on its former site. The returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house with joy. Massive numbers of sacrifices were made and priests and Levites were set up in their service of God in Jerusalem as prescribed by the book of Moses. The exiles kept the Passover as was their custom. In the book of the prophet Haggai, Zerubabbel received word that it was not time to rebuild the house. The word came a little later. Haggai said the new house will be of greater splendor than the old. It will contain the glory of the Lord and it will give you peace. In the book of Zechariah, an angel appeared before him to declare that the Lord is like a ring of fire around Jerusalem and that the Lord will soon dwell among them and they will be his people.

Gospel: Jesus urges his people to be like a lamp that does no good being concealed. It must be raised on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. As Jesus speaks, his embarrassed mother and brothers call to him because they want him to stop talking as if he were God. Herod the tetrarch heard about what Jesus was doing and he was greatly perplexed. He inquired about the identity of Jesus. Some answered that he is John raised from the dead or Elijah or one of the ancient prophets. Herod wanted to meet Jesus. Jesus then asks his friends, "Who do the crowds say that I am? Who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ." Jesus told them that he must suffer, die, and be raised on the third day. Everyone was amazed at every deed of Jesus, but he told them that the Son of Man must be handed over to men. No one understood what he meant.


Saints of the Week

Monday: Januarius, bishop and martyr (d. 305), was bishop of Benevento during his martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution. He was arrested when he tried to visit imprisoned Christians. Legend tell us that a vial that contains his blood has been kept in the Naples cathedral since the 15^th century liquefies three times a year.

Tuesday: Andrew Kim Taegon, priest, martyr, Paul Hasang, martyr, and companion martyrs (19th century), were Korean martyrs that began to flourish in the early 1800’s. The church leadership was almost entirely lay-run. In 1836, Parisian missionaries secretly entered the country and Christians began to encounter hostility and persecutions. Over 10,000 Christians were killed. Taegon was the first native-born priest while the rest were 101 lay Christians.

Wednesday: Matthew, evangelist and Apostle (first century), may be two different people, but we have not historical data on either man. Since Matthew relies heavily upon Mark’s Gospel, it is unlikely that the evangelist is one of the Twelve Apostles. The Apostle appears in a list of the Twelve and in Matthew’s Gospel he is called a tax collector. The Evangelist is writing to Jewish-Christians who are urged to embrace their Jewish heritage and to participate in their mission to the Gentiles. To Matthew, Jesus is the fulfillment of the hopes of Jews and the inaugurator of a new way to relate to God.

Friday: Pio of Pietrelcina, priest (1887-1968) was affectionately named Padre Pio and was a Capuchin priest who received the stigmata (wounds of Christ) just as Francis of Assisi did. He founded a hospital and became the spiritual advisor to many at a monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo.

This Week in Jesuit History

·         Sep 18, 1540. At Rome, Pedro Ribadeneira, aged fourteen, was admitted into the Society by St Ignatius (nine days before official papal confirmation of the Society).

·         Sep 19, 1715. At Quebec, the death of Fr. Louis Andre, who for 45 years labored in the missions of Canada amid incredible hardships, often living on acorns, a kind of moss, and the rind of fruits.
·         Sep 20, 1990. The first-ever Congregation of Provincials met at Loyola, Spain, on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of the approval of the Society and 500th anniversary of the birth of St Ignatius.
·         Sep 21, 1557. At Salamanca, Melchior Cano wrote to Charles V's confessor, accusing the Jesuits of being heretics in disguise.
·         Sep 22, 1774. The death of Pope Clement XIV, worn out with suffering and grief because of the suppression of the Society. False stories had been circulated that he was poisoned by the Jesuits.
·         Sep 23, 1869. Woodstock College of the Sacred Heart opened. With 17 priests, 44 scholastics, and 16 brothers it was the largest Jesuit community in the United States at the time.
·         Sep 24, 1566. The first Jesuits entered the continental United States at Florida. Pedro Martinez and others, while attempting to land, were driven back by the natives, and forced to make for the island of Tatacuran. He was killed there three weeks later.

Poem: The Stabat Mater

At the cross her station keeping,
Mary stood in sorrow weeping
When her Son was crucified.

While she waited in her anguish,

Seeing Christ in torment languish,
Bitter sorrow pierced her heart.

With what pain and desolation,
With what noble resignation,

Mary watched her dying Son.

Ever-patient in her yearning
Though her tear-filled eyes were burning,
Mary gazed upon her Son.

Who, that sorrow contemplating,
On that passion meditating,
Would not share the Virgin's grief?

Christ she saw, for our salvation,

The Collegeville Hymnal
Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1990.

Prayer: Cardinal Suenens of Belgium

I believe in the surprises of the Holy Spirit. The story of the Church is a long story, filled with the wonders of the Holy Spirit. Why should we think that God's imagination and love might be exhausted?

Prayer: Thomas Aquinas

We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; and God has provided for this, by appointing angels to be our teachers and guides.

Spirituality: A Gift

A retreatant told me a story about a parishioner and her 17 year old daughter. The teen was a bright student who never was in any trouble. She had good friends and lived a healthy lifestyle. One Friday night she decided to go out with other friends who were drinking and partying. As the driver of the car, she was taken into police custody as she was intoxicated while driving. Her mother came to pick her up at the police station and as she drove she unleashed all her anger towards her daughter's behavior. Her daughter had never done anything like this before and they had a good relationship with healthy conversations. When the mother greeted her daughter at the police station, she showed her concern and her anger towards her daughter, but she knew she couldn't have a conversation with someone who was intoxicated.

The girl slept late the next morning and feared going downstairs to face the hostility of her mother. She could smell the bacon cooking and knew that her mother was making breakfast for her. She decided to face her mother even though she felt bad enough about her choices. When the daughter came downstairs, her mother politely greeted her and placed breakfast before her. She also gave her a wrapped gift.

The girl quipped, "What's this for?" Her mother just asked her to open it. The daughter replied, "but I don't deserve a gift." As she opened the box, she saw a large rock inside it. She said, "I don't understand. What's this about?"

Her mother said, "It took 450,000,000 years for God to form this rock. God was steadfast and patient as it came into being. You are only 17 and I will be patient with you for I love you as steadfastly as God loves this rock. My love for you will endure. Please keep this rock in your room to know that my love for you will not erode over the centuries."

Spirituality: It is too late

I recently heard a story by a retreatant about Sr. Carolyn, who taught elementary school. She was regarded as one of the best teachers in the school and she liked to teach Second Grade. The principal would send her the difficult students because she had a way of working with them. One day, Jimmy was transferred to her class because he was disruptive in another class. Jimmy was fine for the first few days and then began to act out. On the fifth day, he was particularly agitated and was affecting the entire class. Sr. Carolyn pulled Jimmy into a safe space where she could speak to him. She laid her hands on his shoulders and looked at him squarely in the eyes and said, "Jimmy, It is too late. I already love you."