Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

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Thursday, 20 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : White

Judges 11 : 29-39a

The Spirit of YHVH came upon Jephthah. He went through Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and then entered the territory of the Ammonites. Jephthah made a vow to YHVH : “If You make me victorious, I shall sacrifice to You whoever first comes out of my house to meet me when I return from battle. He shall be for YHVH and I shall offer him up through the fire.”

Jephthah crossed the territory of the Ammonites to fight against them, and YHVH gave him victory. He pursued them from the city of Aroer to the entrance of Minnith and Abel Keramim, seizing twenty towns. So he defeated the Ammonites.

When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him. She was so happy to see her father that she danced to the sound of her tambourine. She was an only child; besides her he had no other daughter or son. When Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and cried out, “My daughter, you have shattered me; you have brought me misfortune. For I have made a foolish vow to YHVH, and now I cannot take it back.”

She answered, “Father, even if you have made such a foolish vow, you have to do to me just as you promised, for YHVH has avenged you and crushed your enemies. I only beg of you to give me two months to live with my companions in the mountains. There I shall lament because I will never marry.”

Jephthah said to her, “Go then.” And he sent her away for two months. She and her companions went to the mountains and wept because she would never marry. At the end of two months, she returned to her father and he fulfilled the vow he had made.

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Wednesday, 19 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard about the story related by Jotham, youngest son of Jerubaal or Gideon, the one who saved Israel from the tyranny of the Midianites. This was related by him to the people, to protest against their support for Abimelech, another son of Gideon, who aspired to be king over the people of Israel, and in the process, killed all the other seventy sons of Gideon, except Jotham himself who managed to escape.

The people of Israel had lost their bearings in life, and as later occurrences would tell us, this would repeat itself again when Saul was made the king of Israel, as the people complained that they had no king over themselves, and they wanted the awe of human power and glory, to have someone powerful and mighty to lead them against their enemies and show the power of Israel to all those around them. But it was also the kings who then eventually led them to sin and to all sorts of wickedness that brought about their downfall.

They were buoyed and mesmerised by human power, and they failed to realise that human power and all sorts of good things that exist in the world are just temporary and will not last, whereas if they put their trust in God, they can be assured that they would not be disappointed because God Himself will take good care of them. And God through Jesus wanted to show them this in what we heard in the Gospel today.

In the Gospel, we heard about how Jesus spoke about the parable on the kingdom of God, using the workers gathered by a landlord, who were then paid one silver coin as their reward, to show the people on what the kingdom of God is like, and what they are expected to do. The workers represented all mankind, the landlord is God Himself, and the silver coin reward is God’s promise of eternal life.

God calls us mankind all the time, and regardless of when we decide to respond to His call, whether it is early or late, or even at the hour of death, but as long as inside our hearts, we are sincere about our desire to follow Him, and to abandon all of the past sins that we have committed, as well as all the wickedness in our hearts, and commit ourselves to a new path of righteousness and obedience to God, then all of us will have the path forward opened for us.

God treats all of mankind in the same manner, and all of us are equal before Him, and there is nothing that makes Him favour one of us over the other. This is what Jesus wanted us to understand, when He related the parable of the workers and their pay to the people. Each of the labourers, regardless of the time of their calling, received the same reward. And this shows that all of us regardless of whether we are called young or old, early or late in our lives, as long as we heed God’s call and change our lives in repentance, we will be saved.

And truly, we have to change our ways, from the ways of the people of Israel of old times, to the way that Jesus had shown us, and which we have preserved and received through the Church, passed down to us from the Holy Apostles and disciples of our Lord. This is what we need to do, or else, we will have no share in the inheritance of eternal life and blessings which our Lord had promised to us.

Today, we celebrate the life of a saint, whose examples may be our inspiration. He is St. John Eudes, a holy priest, whose life was entirely dedicated to God, and whose actions were reflections of what Christ had taught us. St. John Eudes was a very dedicated priest who rendered his service and many help to all those who were sick and dying, and all those who were ostracised, unloved and rejected.

St. John Eudes is an example to all of us, because he did not care about himself first, or in selfishness, caring about his own needs. He cared about others first, all those who are around him who are in need for his help. He showed his love to them, the love of God, and he shows how we ought to treat everyone equally, for all are our fellow men, our brothers and sisters before the Lord.

May Almighty God, through the help of St. John Eudes, our intercessor, help us to be more aware of the love which He has for us, and therefore, be stirred to love one another ourselves, and through that love, bear forth much good fruits of love, and bring us closer to Him as a result. God bless us all. Amen.

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Wednesday, 19 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Matthew 20 : 1-16a

At that time, Jesus said to the people, “This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven : A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay each worker the usual daily wage, and sent them to his vineyard.”

“He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the town square, he said to them, ‘You also, go to my vineyard, and I will pay you what is just.’ So they went. The owner went out at midday, and again at three in the afternoon, and he did the same.”

“Finally he went out at the last working hour – the eleventh hour – and he saw others standing there. So he said to them, ‘Why do you stay idle the whole day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ The master said, ‘Go and work in my vineyard.'”

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up, and were each given a silver coin.”

“When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, each received a silver coin. So, on receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner. They said, ‘These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us, who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat.'”

“The owner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin per day? So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Why are you envious when I am kind?'”

“So will it be : the last will be first, the first will be last.”

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Wednesday, 19 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Psalm 20 : 2-3, 4-5, 6-7

The king rejoices in Your strength, o Lord, and exults in Your saving help. You have granted him his desire; You have not rejected his request.

You have come to him with rich blessings; You have placed a golden crown upon his head. When he asked, You gave him life – length of days forever and ever.

He glories in the victory You gave him; You shall bestow on him splendour and majesty. You have given him eternal blessings, and gladdened him with the joy of Your presence.

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Wednesday, 19 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Eudes, Priest (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Priests)

Judges 9 : 6-15

Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubaal, said, “The trees once set out to find and anoint a king. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ The olive tree answered, ‘Am I going to renounce the oil by which – thanks to Me – gods and people are honoured, to hold sway over the trees?'”

“The trees said to the fig tree : ‘Come and reign over us.’ The fig tree answered them, ‘Am I going to renounce my sweetness and my delicious fruit, to hold sway over the trees?'”

“The trees said to the vine : ‘Come and reign over us.’ The vine answered, ‘Am I going to renounce my juice which cheers gods and people to hold sway over the trees?'”

“Then the trees said to the bramble bush : ‘Come, reign over us.’ The bramble bush answered the trees, ‘If you come in sincerity to anoint me as your king, then come near and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire break out of the bramble bush to devour even the cedars of Lebanon.”

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Tuesday, 18 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard about how God sent His help and deliverance to His people through His messenger, an Angel, to bring the good news of liberation through the man, Gideon, whom He had appointed to be the one to save His people from the oppression and tyranny of the Midianites. Through Gideon, God would bring His people to remember what He had done to their ancestors when they were oppressed in Egypt.

The people of God had lived for quite some time by then in the land which He had promised them and their ancestors. The land of Canaan was a land that was superbly fertile and flourishing, flowing with milk and honey, and with bountiful harvests too. No other land on earth was comparable, and God gave His people the very best of land, because of the faith of their ancestors, and they inherit the good promise of God.

But in the process, the people of Israel forgot about the Lord and all the good things He has done for them. This is because, as is with human nature, all of us are easily tempted and corrupted by the many temptations and allures of this world. The bounty of goods and wealth that the land had brought them, had made the people of God overjoyed and even proud of what they had and what they had achieved, and in the end, they became like their neighbours, revelling in sin and merrymaking, and forgetting about God.

As a result, God allowed their neighbours to overpower them, to remind them that sin and worldliness lead to nothing but destruction and punishment suitable for that wickedness. And which in the Gospel today, our Lord Jesus Christ had also highlighted this fact, that it is difficult for someone with riches and wealth to enter into the kingdom of God, for their wealth and riches became their undoing.

It is just the same as what we heard in the Gospel yesterday on the young man who eventually did not follow the Lord even though He had faithfully obeyed all the Law and the commandments, because he was unable to part with his riches and wealth, when Jesus told him that the way to go was for him to let go of all that he had, and follow Him.

We have to take note that here, what Jesus is trying to tell us is not that wealth or riches are vile and wicked, and neither it is that rich people are wicked or evil, or that they are condemned. In fact, all people are equal before God, be it rich or poor, strong or weak, smart or foolish, great or small. What differentiates them is the love and devotion which they have for the Lord.

We are challenged today, to look beyond our earthly possessions and wealth that bound us to this world. Look at the disciples of the Lord, the holy Apostles, all of whom, like the many saints and martyrs who had abandoned everything to follow the Lord. They have no need to fear anything, and they were satisfied, for God provided all that they needed, and He cared for them in everything, and most importantly, they received the fullness of the promise of eternal life because of their faith.

Let us all also be able to resist the temptations of the flesh, and keep ourselves free from the allures of the devil and worldly goods. Let us all realise that whatever we have with us, we can use for the betterment of others around us, that all of us are well taken care of, and in love, all of us may be found worthy by our Lord, and be welcomed into His everlasting inheritance. God bless us all. Amen.

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Tuesday, 18 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Matthew 19 : 23-30

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you : it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Yes, believe Me : it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

On hearing this the disciples were astonished and said, “Who, then, can be saved?” Jesus looked steadily at them and answered, “For human beings it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Then Peter spoke up and said, “You see we have given up everything to follow You. What will be our lot?” Jesus answered, “You who have followed Me, listen to My words : on the Day of Renewal, when the Son of Man sits on His throne in glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.”

“As for those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or property for My Name’s sake, they will receive a hundredfold and be given eternal life. Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.”

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Tuesday, 18 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Psalm 84 : 9, 11-12, 13-14

Would that I hear God’s proclamation, that He promise peace to His people, His saints – lest they come back to their folly.

Love and faithfulness have met; righteousness and peace have embraced. Faithfulness will reach up from the earth while justice bends down from heaven.

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its fruit. Justice will go before Him, and peace will follow along His path.

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Tuesday, 18 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Judges 6 : 11-24a

The Angel of YHVH came and sat under the sacred tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, of the family of Abiezer. Gideon, the son of Joash, was threshing the wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.

The Angel of YHVH said to him, “YHVH be with you, valiant warrior.” Gideon answered, “Please, my Lord, if YHVH is with us, why is all this happening to us? Where are the wonders which our fathers recounted to us? Did they not say that YHVH led them up from Egypt? Why has He abandoned us now and given us into the hands of the Midianites?”

YHVH then turned to him and said, “Go, and with your courage, save Israel from the Midianites. It is I who send you.” Gideon answered : “Pardon me, Lord, but how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in my tribe and I am the least in the family of my father.”

YHVH said to him, “I will be with you and you shall defeat the people of Midian with one single stroke.” Gideon said to Him, “Please give me a sign that it is indeed You who speak. Do not leave until I return with an offering and present it to You.” YHVH responded, “I am going to wait for you here.”

Gideon went and prepared a young goat, took a measure of flour and baked unleavened bread. He put the broth in a pot and the meat in a basket, and went to present them to the Angel under the tree. Then the Angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the bread; put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.”

Gideon did so. At that moment, the Angel of YHVH extended the staff He was holding and touched the meat and the bread. Suddenly, fire blazed from the rock. The fire consumed the meat and the bread, and the Angel of YHVH disappeared.”

Gideon realised that He was the Angel of YHVH and said, “Alas, o Lord YHVH! I have seen the Angel of YHVH face to face.” But YHVH said to him, “Peace be with you. Do not fear for you shall not die.” Gideon built an altar to YHVH in that place and called it YHVH-Peace.

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Monday, 17 August 2015 : 20th Week of Ordinary Time (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we heard firstly about how God was angry at His people whom He had cared for so much during their Exodus and journey from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, which He had given to them for them and their descendants to dwell in. He had made a covenant with them, and yet, very quickly, they had broken their parts of the the covenant.

They were not fully faithful, although the Lord was faithful to them. They do not have the love for the Lord in their hearts, and their faith for the Lord was superficial and without strong foundation. They love only themselves and think about only their own security and try to satisfy their own desires, the desires of their stomach and their bodies before they would try to obey the Lord and His commands.

In the Gospel today, Jesus spoke about how someone who have followed the commandments of God, His Law and precepts cannot be fully His disciples if they did not learn to let go of their earthly temptations and the allures of the devil, which he had placed on our path to keep us ensnared and trapped in the darkness of sin. He showed us this truth and fact when He spoke with the young man on what he needs to achieve eternal life.

The young man had followed the Lord in all of His laws and commandments, and if we assume that this is referring to the laws as then practiced by the Jewish community, then we ought to know that this meant a very great accomplishment in some sense, as the Jews, particularly the Pharisees, were very stringent on following the laws to the very latter.

And there were very numerous rules and regulations in place, but the young man had obeyed them all, and yet what was it that hindered him from truly achieving the goal of salvation and eternal life? It was as mentioned, that his attachment and inability to separate himself from the worldly temptations was his undoing. He had a great wealth, and he would rather part with the Lord rather than part with those goods, as what we can imply from the Gospel.

This however does not mean that we ought to literally follow what Jesus had said, namely to sell all of our things and shun all forms of worldly goods. We still need to live in this world and in order to do so, we still need to use the goods of the world to sustain us. What we have to take note is that these goods, the wealth of the world is not inherently evil or bad, but instead, it is how we use them that can be considered as good or bad.

We have to learn to restrain our desires and how to use what we have meaningfully for the good of others around us, and that is what is important. Let us all pray that we will be given wisdom to discern good from bad, and how to love one another ever more, and not just to be concerned about ourselves and our need only. Let us be able to follow our Lord’s way of love, and be less selfish and be less focused on ourselves only.

May Almighty God help us, that we may overcome the temptations of the world, and find our way to His love, that in all of our actions, we may be true disciples and followers of His, and be found worthy of His eternal kingdom. God bless us all. Amen.