The Lord teaches that greatness comes from a humble heart that recognizes the good that others do.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 26th Week of the Year
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Tag Archives: Catholic
27th Sunday of the Year: God’s Vineyard.
Study: Recall a time when you rejected something you knew was right. Did you finally swallow your pride and admit it or did you maintain your original rejection?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to choose what is good, holy, and true.
Serve: Who in your life is facing a difficult or challenging decision right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 27th Sunday of the Year
In the ancient world there were three plants that were very important:
* wheat — for making bread
* olives — for making oil
* grapes — for making wine
These three foods were central to the diet of the people in the Gospel story. Bread was the staple; it was unleavened and similar to our “pita bread” today. Oil was used for cooking, bathing, cleaning, perfume, and household applications. Wine was the principle alternative to water – and when added to water, the alcohol in the wine insured a certain level of safety.
Vineyards were a common part of people’s experience. Even today the Mediterranean region is filled with vineyards, some small, others massive. Thus, when the Scriptures refer to vineyards, the image was familiar and easily understood.
Keeping a vineyard is hard work! The vines need constant attention: pruning, weeding, watering, and keeping them tied up off the ground. Patient care is required as workers routinely check the health of the plant so as to prevent any disease.
In the Gospel today we hear how a landowner leased his vineyard out to tenants who worked for him. At harvest time he sent his servants to gather his portion of grapes, only to have them rejected and injured. Finally he sent his son who was killed by the tenants.
One way to understand this story is to see the tenants as the people of Israel. They rejected the servants (the Prophets) sent by the landowner (God), and killed the only son (Jesus). Simply put, their work in the vineyard did not yield good fruit; their actions resulted in rejection and death.
But what happens when we place ourselves in the story? What happens when we see ourselves as the servants in the vineyard?
Every day God sends messengers into our hearts. We know how we should live and offer our lives through many sources: our conscience; friends & family; the Scriptures; the teaching of the Church.
Let’s face it. We work in a different vineyard, the garden of life. We labor as tenants on the Earth, bearing fruit that will one day be harvested by the Owner. May our work in the vineyard be worthy when he calls, and may our reception of his servants show our respect and our love.
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Note: This post was first published on October 3, 2017.
26th Sunday of the Year: What are we doing with what we’ve been given? Catholic Inspiration
The parable of the two sons reveals the power of our actions to define ourselves in the context of the unique aspects of our lives.
Mass Readings – 26th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: To clearly see the Cross. Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus talks about his approaching Passion on the Cross, the disciples fail to understand his meaning. Their fear and hesitation remind us to be aware of the sacrifices we will make for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 25th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: All times are in the hand of God. Catholic Inspiration
Through his death and resurrection, Jesus touches all aspects of human life with a grace that brings hope and healing. May we see God at work in every moment of our day as we place our trust in the Lord.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 25th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Without life in Christ, all things are vanity. Catholic Inspiration
The emptiness that Qoheleth describes and Herod the tetrarch experiences both point to a common theme: a life without God is no life at all.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 25th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: What is the Lord’s task for today? Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus empowers his disciples to minister to the people, we are reminded that the Lord continues to invite us to serve in His name to those in our lives.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 24th Week (St. Pius of Pietrelcina)
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Daily Mass: Hearing and acting on the Word of God. Catholic Inspiration
As I spend time today with my Mom on her birthday, I pause to thank God that my parents shared their faith and helped me live it.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 25th Week of the Year
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Feast of St. Matthew: We live in a manner worthy of our call. Catholic Inspiration
The Letter to the Ephesians beautifully illustrates how we are directed to live according to the manner of our call to follow Jesus Christ. Simply put, if we have been given gifts, then may we joyfully offer them to the Lord!
Mass Readings – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle
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Note: Today is my birthday, and I give thanks to God for the gift of my life!
26th Sunday of the Year: A call to action.
Study: When in your life have actions “shouted down” the words we hear?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the strength to be consistent in what we say and do.
Serve: How do my words encourage others? How do my actions show my care and support?
Mass Readings – 26th Sunday of the Year
It seems like there are certain phrases that get said throughout our lives. These words are commands, invitations, and requests to make things happen – and they come in many forms:
“Take out the trash”
“Clean your room”
“Do the dishes”
“Come to my…” (athletic game, concert, etc.)
“Would you volunteer at…” (pick one!)
“Help me with…”
Let’s face it. We are asked to do many things throughout this life. From chores and tasks to acts of kindness and civil responsibility, many of these actions are simply part of our existence on this earth.
Yet once we hear these words we are asked to respond. This happens in two crucial ways:
* What we say (our WORDS)
* What we do (our ACTIONS)
When we are confronted with a request or invitation how we respond says a lot about who we are. If our words and actions are in agreement everything is fine – “yes” means yes and “no” means no. But if we say one thing and do another, then the weight of our choice is measured in our actions.
This is the message of the Gospel today. Jesus speaks of two sons who receive a request from their father. One says yes but does not act, the other says no but changes his mind and acts. In the end, the one who acted did his father’s will.
We journey through life confronted by countless choices everyday. Some things we know should be done, others should not. Some things are options that could be done; we have to weigh the priorities of our time, energy, ability, and need. Yet what we discover is that we are defined not by what we say, but by what we do.
As people of faith we have other commands to follow: Love God; Love one another; Repent and forgive; Work for justice; Seek peace. Indeed our faith is reflected not in our words but our actions; even the Golden Rule “Do to others as you would have them do to you…” (Mt 7:12) is nothing more than a reminder that actions speak louder than words.
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Note: This post was originally published on September 23, 2014
