32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

November 8, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Wisdom 6: 12-16

Psalm 63 “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18, (or 4: 13-1)

Gospel reading according to Matthew 25: 1-13

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Homily:

God has given us intelligence, knowledge, understanding and wisdom to be used wisely and with farsightedness and prudence.  But the question is, how do we use these God-given gifts for the sake of Reign-Kingdom of heaven?  Just like the ten virgins in the parable Jesus told to his disciples, some are wise and prudent virgins and others are unwise and foolish virgins.  Which of these two groups of virgins do we belong to? “Jesus told his disciples this parable: ‵The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise′.” (Matthew 25: 1-2).  Jesus gave another parable of the Wedding Feast as comparing it to the Reign-Kingdom of heaven to “ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.”  The bridegroom here is Jesus, the Son of the Living God, who is coming to take her bride, the Church, to the Kingdom of heaven.

The ten bridesmaids were composed of five wise and another five foolish virgins.  ”‵The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamp′.” (Matthew 25: 3-4). The lamp in the parable is the symbol of faith that brightens the life of each one of us,  The five foolish (thoughtless, irrational) virgins, on the one hand, who brought lamps were not prepared well for the up-coming event they did not expect yet they knew that any hour of the day or night the bridegroom will come unexpectedly.  They did not reserve extra oil to light the path of the bridegroom and his entourage. The oil is the symbol of charity that gives strength to our faith by doing good works to others.   On the other hand, the five wise (astute, sensible) virgins prepared very well fo the event (the coming of the bridegroom) whom they expected to come any hour of the day or night or in the middle of the night.  They brought with them extra oil in case the coming of the bridegroom is delayed.  Sometimes or most of the time we do not prepare ourselves for any important event or moment that may come into our lives.  We just let it go and think it will pass away unnoticed.  But we become fools for disregarding these important events or moments in our lives.  To be prepared is better than doing nothing or not using the gifts given to us from above.  What a waste! (Kakarag, sayang naman!).

The expected time of the coming of the bridegroom did not realize. “‵Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep′.” (Matthew 25: 5).  The ten virgins waited for the coming of the bridegroom.  But instead his coming was delayed unexpectedly.  They never knew the exact time of his coming, so they were tired waiting and they all fell asleep, a very deep sleep, without thinking that they were running out of oil from the lamps.  Is our lamp running out of oil to light the path of Jesus? of our own lives? 

And the time came, the moment of long waiting has arrived.  The bridegroom has come. “‵At midnight, there was a cry, ‵Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him!′  Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps′.” (Matthew 25: 6-7). At the middle of the night, the bridegroom and his entourage came without warning, only a cry from the company of the bridegroom was heard coming.  And because of this cry or shouting, the ten virgins woke up and prepared their lamps to meet the bridegroom.  The five wise virgins added oil in their lamps, and were ready to meet the bridegroom.  While the other five foolish virgins were running out of oil and so they came to the five wise virgins and asked for some oil.

The five foolish virgins asked the other five wise virgins of their extra oil.  But instead of giving or sharing their extra oil, they told them to buy it at the nearest store because if they give or share their extra oil, both of them were run out of oil to welcome and to light the path of the bridegroom and his entourage.  “‵The foolish ones said to the wise, ‵Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.′   But the wise ones replied, ‵No, for there may not enough for us and you.  Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.′  While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him′.” (Matthew 25: 8-10).  They are wise and prudent in dealing with the unwise.  If they share their extra oil and suddenly run out of light, they cannot follow the entourage where they are going, and learn the place or the house of the bridegroom, and they are unable to participate in the Wedding Feast.

To show also that the wedding feast is only for those who joined in entourage and to those who welcome him, the door of the house or gate is closed and or lock.  “‵Then the door was locked′.” (Matthew 25: 10).  No one can enter or go out in that closed door, even those invited guests who came late were not able to enter and join in the celebratio

So also those five unwise or foolish and unprepared virgins who bought oil in the store.  When they arrived at the place of the celebration of the wedding and knocked on the door, they were not allowed to enter even though they shouted loud and clear to the gatekeeper.   “Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‵Lord, Lord, open the door for us!′  But he said in reply, ‵Amen, I say to you, I do not know you′.” (Matthew 25: 11-12).  Because of their foolishness, unpreparedness, they were not allowed to enter and join in the happiness and joy of the wedding feast, because they did not use the gifts given to them by God, they were expelled from the banquet of the Lord, the fullness of life in his Reign-Kingdom of heaven.

Be prepared and be ready always for we do not know the time, the hour or the day of the coming of the bridegroom, of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  “‵Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know nether the day nor the hour′.” (Matthew 25: 13).  It is necessary to always be awake, prepared with farsightedness, wisdom and sagacity for we do not know when our Lord Jesus Christ will come, but surely and expectedly that he will come in our lives.

God shared to us his intelligence, understanding, knowledge and wisdom to be used for the sake of his Reign-Kingdom of heaven by helping our brothers and sisters in need of our support and charity, love, and to become wise and prudent.  Our lamp (as a sign and symbol of our faith) teaches us to love our brothers and sisters by feeding those who are hungry, giving water to those who are thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing those who are naked – meaning giving flesh to our faith through the oil (sign or symbol of charity) of gladness, hope and joy that we ay enter in the Lord, Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, in his Wedding Feast that is to come.

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 Solemnity of All Saints (ABC)

November 1, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Revelation 7: 2-4, 9-14

Psalm 24 “Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.”

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-3

Gospel reading according to Matthew 5: 1-12a

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Homily:

Jesus, as a true Shepherd of his flock, saw the conditions of his sheep. In his fold, there were poor, some were mourning, others were meek, and many were hungry and thirsty, but some were merciful, others were clean of hearts, and others were peacemakers. The scene was like a collage or collection of different faces and circumstances and disorder of different walks of life.  They followed Jesus for in him they found their hope, their liberation from poverty and grip of the Roman Empire.  Jesus saw them clearly after he went up on the mountain (or a knoll) as sheep without shepherds (for their shepherds were living a luxurious and wealthy lifestyle under the protection of their cohorts, the Romans).  “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying: (Matthew 5: 1-2).  Afterward, he sat down and his disciples came to him and he began to teach them.  The disciples were expecting something from Jesus.  They would like to hear from him what was his plan, what he wanted to do with the present conditions of his people and his country.  But he said another thing. 

He said, ‵Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.′ (Matthew 5: 3).  He said the poor are blessed not because they were poor and better to remain poor, but because the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.  He saw in the poverty of the people the dependence and trust and confidence, of those who have nothing but only the Lord God.  They have nowhere to turn to except in the loving and merciful God.  They easily followed God for they have less to travel.

He said, ‵Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.′ (Matthew 5: 4).  Those who are mourning, maybe because they lost their loved ones or someone in their family whom they depended upon, either one or more members of their families and their relatives were murdered by the soldiers, they had lost their properties, etc. and many other reasons for their mourning.  They are blessed not because they were mourning but because they will be comforted beyond their losses.  Even God lost a Son when he sent him here on earth to fulfill what he promised long, long time ago, (but without mourning), to show his love to his creatures, to us.

He said, ‵Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.′ (Matthew 5: 5).  Those who do not provoke any fight, or quarrel, who do not fight back, those who are humble, timid, submissive, gentle, docile, modest, compliant, and mild to their neighbors and to God.  They are blessed not because they are meek and humble and timid, etc., but because they will inherit the land.  The land given to them but denied to them.  But because of their patience endurance they will receive what they were longing for.

He said, ‵Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.′ (Matthew 5: 6).  Many who followed Jesus were hungry and thirsty in different persuasion, either hunger for physical or material food and thirsty of water, or justice and peace, of integrity of creation, hunger for love, understanding and forgiveness, or pardon, hunger and thirst for something relevant to them like money, recognition, power and authority but they were denied to them, even hunger for righteousness sake and more. They are blessed not because they are hungry and thirst for righteousness, but they are blessed because they will satisfy their hunger and thirst. While they were suffering from hunger and thirst for virtues, justice, decency, uprightness, rectitude sake, in due time they will experience satisfaction.  

He said, ‵Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.′ (Matthew 5: 7).  There are those who are merciful to their neighbors, even to their enemies and friends, to those who need mercy.  Despite their conditions in life, those who aggravated, provoked and heightened the situation, for example letting them to commit sins, gossip, give wrong accusation, etc., they are ready to give pardon and forgiveness and mercy and compassion.  Therefore, those merciful, they are blessed not because they are merciful, but because they will be shown mercy of the most merciful and loving and compassionate God

He said, ‵Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.′ (Matthew 5: 8).  Some of those present in the crowds were clean of heart.  They have had a clean intention in following Jesus Christ.  They really wanted to hear or listen to the “voice” of God present in the words and teachings of Jesus the Christ.  They were also blessed not because their hearts are clean but because they shall see God face to face.  

He said, ‵Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.′ (Matthew 5: 9).  Also many in the crowds are peacemakers.  What they wanted was peace of heart, mind, body and soul, of their community and in society that was why they were following Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.  Also they are blessed not because they were peacemakers, but because they will be called children of God.  The children of God are those who love peace, justice and integrity of creation.

He said, ‵Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.′ (Matthew 5: 10).  Those who do right, living virtues lives, even moral living, just, decent and uprightness, honest and blameless lives, and do not judge others whose lives are full of filth, immorality, sinning in the eyes of their neighbors and God.  While others saw these upright people as hypocrites, showy, “pakitang-tao” or plastic, wearing masks to deceive others and many false accusations and so they were persecuted.  Nevertheless, in spite of many wrong accusations and up to receiving persecutions, they remained upright and righteous.  Therefore, they are blessed not because they were persecuted for the sake of righteousness, but because theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

He said, ‵Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.′ (Matthew 5: 11-12).  Those who believed in Jesus Christ and followed his commands and teachings despite them were lampoon, laughed at, and even insulted and persecuted and uttered every kind of evil but remained steadfast and firm in their resolve to obey Jesus.  Still many people do not believe in Jesus Christ or do not know him because of their ignorance and stubbornness of hearts or because they belonged to other religions who do not have ecumenical or inter-religious dialogue programs in their houses of worship.  So they became mad when they heard the Christians talking about Jesus′s life and ministry, his passion, death and resurrection; so they hated and have grudges against those who believe in Jesus but still they continued believing, loving and worshipping Jesus, and because of these they are blessed not because they were insulted and persecuted and uttered every kind of evil against us falsely because of Jesus but because our reward in heaven is great.

These beatitudes are our guides or sign posts that will lead us to have a perfect life in Jesus Christ.  They are tools we can use to have harmonious relationships with our neighbors and to God.  They are also our tools on how to live happy and blessed life in spite of poverty, mourning, meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful and clean of hearts, peacemakers, and being persecuted for the sake of righteousness and even insulted and persecuted because of Jesus Christ, our model in perfection of life, so that we may become heirs of the Kingdom of heaven, will be comforted, will inherit the land, will be satisfied, will be shown mercy, will see God, will be called children of God, and our reward will be great in heaven.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 

October 25, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Exodus 22: 20-26

Psalm 18 “I love you, Lord, my strength.”

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1: 5c-10

Gospel reading according to Matthew 22: 34-40

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Homily:

Another influential group was silenced by Jesus, this time it was the Sadducees. “The Sadducees, according to Josephus, tell us, had the confidence of the wealthy, but no followers among the people.  The Sadducean party was composed of the high priests, the nobles, the most eminent citizens and the leading men.  Under the Roman rule, the Sanhedrin got a degree of political independence and authority that Herod had denied them.  Rome was also in a position to deprive land-owners of their property.  Therefore, it was in the interest of the Sadducees and the wealthy to cooperate with Rome.  One example is when the chief priests helped to quell Judas’ revolt against the taxes in 6 A.D.  So the local collaborators with Roman rule were the Sadducees, the wealthy, the land owners and tax collectors.  Between them, they controlled the government, agriculture, employment, and business” (FABC Office of Human Development, Jesus for our Times: Towards A Spirituality of Social Action, Rev. Vinay Kumar Samuel, “The Church in the World, Manila, Philippines, 1986, p. 77). 

With regards to religious practices and beliefs, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were in contradiction in many ways of their interpretation of their beliefs. One of these was the resurrection of the dead.  While the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees did not believe in it.  They have many religious beliefs they have disagreed with.  But, this time, they joined together, for they have found a common enemy, in the person of Jesus Christ.  “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them a scholar of the law tested him by asking, ‵Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?′” (Matthew 22: 34-36).  The Sadducees this time were silenced by Jesus Christ.  And the Pharisees heard about it, so together, they joined in on how to capture and silence Jesus Christ.  Nonetheless, because of Jesus the Pharisees and the Sadducees became friends, and one, and joined in together on how to trap their common enemy. 

Another group, the elite, educated and learned of the leading enemy of Jesus was the scholars of the Law and the Prophets, known as scribes.  They also joined in the groups of Pharisees and Sadducees on how to trap Jesus in his word.

The scholar of the Law asked Jesus to test him on his knowledge of the Book of Law (Torah) and the Prophets. He asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”  Jesus, as true teacher and with full knowledge of the Book of Moses, the TaNaK, (Torah, the Prophets and History), gave the wonderful and time tested expression of one′s faith in God and to his neighbors (to our brothers and sisters – fraternity and social friendship (Fratelli Tutti)). “He said to him, ‵You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments′.” (Matthew 22: 37-40).  There is no other greatest law or commandment than to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  The second is like it: We shall love our neighbors as ourselves, for they are our brothers and sisters in one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  With this answer, the scholar of the Law and the Prophets was silenced by Jesus, and no one dared to ask him a question.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 

October 18, 2020

 Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6

Psalm 96 “Give the Lord glory and honor.”

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonica 1: 1-5b

Gospel reading according to Matthew 22: 15-21

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Homily:

The Pharisees, the separated ones, who distance themselves to the rest of the people of Israel so that they may always maintain purity in mind and body; but when it comes to Jesus their true color appeared.  They were jealous of the popularity of Jesus in his wisdom, truthfulness, without any malice, and goodness; while the Pharisees were showy, hypocrites and untrue to what they were saying and doing.  So Jesus silenced the Pharisees and they left.  “The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech” (Matthew 22: 15). But the Pharisees, after leaving the place gathered together and made some plan on how to capture Jesus in his own words and speeches.  (Hindi sila mapakali hangga′t hindi sila nakakaganti.)  They will not stop until they get even.  The same with us, too, we do not stop thinking, planning, plotting ways and means on how we get even to the person who hurt us.  Only when we get even we can relax our mind and heart for we satisfied our anger and hatred.

The Pharisees cannot face Jesus, they have no courage to confront and question him, and so their recourse was to send their disciples (students) to trap Jesus in his speech (word).  “They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, ‵Teacher, we know that you are truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  And you are not concerned with any one′s opinion, for you do not regard a person′s status.  Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not′?” (Matthew 22: 16-17).  Like their masters, the disciples of the Pharisees were also flowery in their speech but empty words.  They described first Jesus′ manner of living, teaching, open-minded with any one′s opinion and disregarded a person′s status.  As if they were saying to Jesus that he is free, independent and without fear. After this manner of introduction they revealed their intention, they began asking Jesus about taxation.

The question posted by the disciples of the Pharisees with the Herodians (soldiers of King Herod) was about taxation, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?”  They would like to hear from the mouth of Jesus his opinion on this query and if he misses the point, there are the Herodians to capture and arrest him and bring him to prison. 

In Jerusalem and even the whole Palestine, there are different kinds of taxes collected from the people.  One of these taxes is the Temple tax collected by the priests for the maintenance and needs of the temple and of the priests themselves.  All Jews are required to pay the levy.  The other tax is the Roman census tax collected by the procurator and sent it to Rome.  This paying of tax only showed the power and subjugation of the conquered nation under the Roman Empire.  The taxes collected are used for protection money and services of the Roman soldiers in Palestine and in Jerusalem in particular.

“Taxation was as much a part of the world of the New Testament as it is in our world today. Various kinds of taxes were imposed, by differing authorities, and for an array of purposes. Religious taxes supported the temple and the central Jewish institutions.  Imperial taxes went to support the Roman government, and local taxes were levied by Jewish rulers and paid for the infrastructure of Judean commerce.  The total tax burden was perhaps as high as 60 percent of all production, but this burden was not primarily imposed by the Romans.  As in any age, the combination of these many taxes resulted in popular dissatisfaction” (https://byustudies.byu.edu/charts/2-6-taxes-judea).

Today, our government imposed new TRAIN 1&2 as another extra taxes to many other taxes, for example, sin tax, property tax, etc., are added and collected from the poor, unemployed, under-employed, marginalized and deprived (Filipino) citizens.  It is alright to collect taxes by the government from its citizens and even Jesus did not deny this responsibility of the citizens of its obligation to one′s country, but the government must use them wisely, total services rendered and or for the social welfare and benefits of its citizenry.  Nevertheless, if the government officials are corrupt and the funds are used for their own selves and interest; it is not right and just to the many hungry, unemployed and poor (Filipino) people this corrupt system of government. They (the corrupt government officials) deserve harsh punishment.

Jesus knew the bad intention of those sent by the Pharisees.  They wanted to test him and capture him according to his word, speech and/or opinion.  “Knowing their malice, Jesus said, ‵Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?  Show me the coins that pays census tax.′ Then they handed him the Roman coin” (Matthew 22: 18-19).  He asked them honestly the purpose of their coming to him.  But they did not give their response.  So, Jesus asked them the coins that pay census tax, and they handed him the Roman coin.

“One of its simplest expressions was in the form of the very coinage that Jesus uses to flip this story on his questioners. The minting of coins was an archaic period Greek invention that gradually spread throughout the ancient world. Like so many Greek inventions, the Romans employed it to their own ends and expanded it significantly. Roman mines, carefully controlled by the state, produced a vast quantity of raw metal that was then minted into coinage. The minting of coins was one of the fundamental acts of the government and of specific rulers -- it was a way to express power, ideology, and propaganda. Minted coins circulated widely throughout the empire and were used to pay the military and facilitated a broad array of economic transactions” In addition, “While Rome occasionally accepted taxes in kind, and even required them from Egypt, Africa, and Sicily in the form of corn, coins were typically demanded for the payment of taxes. This required people of simpler means to convert portions of their wealth into coins, sometimes at a steep cost. This use of coins made the collection of vast wealth into central locations much easier. In addition to their functional uses, coins also had a strong ideological use. A single coinage system across the whole Empire was a fundamental statement of unity, and in the case of conquered regions, a statement of subjugation” (https://www.elca.org/JLE/Articles/605).

In return, he returned the question to and interrogated the disciples of the Pharisees.  “He said to them, ‵Whose image is this and whose inscription?′  They replied, ‵Caesar′s.′  At that he said to them, ‵Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God′.” (Matthew 22: 20-21).  Jesus did not allow to commit mistakes and misled his listeners even his own disciples who were present during the interrogation of the students of Pharisees; and in the end, he even brought also enlightenment to the disciples of the Pharisees about their obligations to the Roman Empire (government) and to God.  As the psalmist said: “Give the Lord glory and honor.” (Psalm 96).

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

October 11, 2020

 

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6-10a

Psalm 23 “I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Second Reading: Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20

Gospel reading according to Matthew 22: 1-14

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Homily:

“Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parable, saying, ‵The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come′.” (Matthew 22: 1-3).

“A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‵Tell those invited: Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready, come to the feast′.  Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them′.” (Matthew 22: 4-6).

“The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city” (Matthew 22: 7).

“Then he said to his servants, ‵The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come.  Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.′  The servants went out into the streets and gathered all the found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests” (Matthew 22: 8-10).

“But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.  He said to him, ‵My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?′ But he was reduced to silence.  Then the king said to his attendants, ‵Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Many are invited, but few are chosen′.” (Matthew 22: 11-14).