Tenants in the Vineyard

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today involve us in a journey in which we live as members of the Body of Christ. The parenesis of Paul to the Philippians is compared by Friar Jude Winkler to the last minute advice of a parent to a child who is going away from home. Peace in the life of the child is to be realized by continuing to live as taught in the family. Friar Jude emphasizes the need for disciples of Jesus to remain on guard against filling our lives and minds with junk which has no beauty or grace. The journey throughout the Gospel texts of October is, according to Ignacio Castuero, an opportunity to hear loudly and clearly that tribalism must be abandoned. The Great Commandment of love of God and neighbour will be the Gospel text at the end of this month. Paddy Gilger, S.J. shows us an view of the Gospel from Matthew about the parable of the tenants which challenges us to hear the message of prophets yesterday and today about the our status as both sinners and loved. As Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt notes, we are taking the lives of those sent to collect the rent when we adopt the attitude that the vineyard is mine or I have worked to receive it. Don Schwager understands that God entrusts his gifts and grace to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard — the body of Christ. The sharpness of the message in the Text from Isaiah that God has not found the fruit He seeks in His Vineyard is not a condemnation of one tribe or tradition but it is a challenge all the people of God to live the parenesis of Paul on peace.

Links to the commentators are here

Simple Humble Path to Peace

A Channel of peace

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the feast to commemorate the life of St Francis of Assisi features texts which show humility and relationship to God to be the values which bring Life. The Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha is also celebrated today. The relationship of this saint with Muslim leaders during a time of conflict in the Crusades is extremely relevant today as mostly Christian armed forces prepare to do battle with Muslims in Syria and Iraq. The conclusion of Job that he must simply trust in God has resonance within the pillars of Islam. Friar Jude Winkler comments on our need to understand some of the language of sacred texts according to the traditions of the time. Thankfully we no longer consider children as possessions and some of the misunderstanding of sacrifice in Islam is based on attempts to understand the practices of earlier times with a modern mindset. Don Schwager finds the call to simplicity of heart in the advice Jesus gives His disciples in the Gospel from Luke. The power and magnificence of God experienced by the disciples is deeply experienced in the simplicity of faith and a loving charity toward others. Steve Scholer tells of Francis action toward a street beggar which was an experience of loving all people.  Fr Richard Rohr describes the method of Francis to bring about reform is to practice the better. The prayer of peace of St Francis is the humble start to a reform of our attitudes to surrender to Love.

The Mystery invites us to live in trust

Angels are powerful guides

Divine guidance from powerful spiritual beings

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today commemorate Guardian Angels. This is one way for believers to explore the experience of not being alone in our spiritual journey. This life experience is often identified in reflection on where we are and how we got here. In Canada, the first reading is from Exodus and it describes the angel which will go before the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan. This angel is a powerful spiritual creature which is a different portrayal than the pet-like creature which Friar Jude Winkler warns us some modern cultural presents as our angel guide. The American Catholic Blog details specific lifelong roles of angels in the lives of individuals. The first reading from the USCCB is from the Book of Job. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the struggles of Job have convinced him that he has a goel, a vindicator or a redeemer who will be present to Job after death. This is noted by Friar Jude as a very early Biblical mention of resurrection. The message of Jesus to His disciples in the Gospel today from Matthew sets the priority for disciples to seek a lifestyle of simplicity which Jesus personifies in a child, who is declared to have Divine Guidance in the form of an angel in the Presence of God (Matt 18:19) Father Ramon Claro comments on the practical ways we are called to be angels to others. We may find that the opportunities cited by Daniel Patrick O'Reilly are pathways we already know in our experience of not being alone on the Way

Responding to the Mystery

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary on the day for the memorial of Saint Therese of Lisieux offer some reflection about the diverse paths possible in our journey as disciples of Jesus. The position of Job as he considers the majesty and infinite power of God is to realize, as we all should, that equality with the Divine is not our destiny. When we are aware of starring at the Eternal Mystery our sense, like Job, of our personal trials may be that they are out of proportion to our sinfulness. Friar Jude Winkler connects with this theme and we all have experience of knowing people who seem to carry more than their fair share of challenges. Saint Therese is described by the Catholic Online Website as one of the most beloved of saints who prayed for those who live the life of disciples, in her case, especially for priests. The Gospel from Luke stresses the demands made on those who decide to follow Jesus as disciples. Friar Jude relates this passage to social conditions and Jewish practices around death in Jesus time. The social behaviour of “door-talking” which connects to the lengthy farewells of Middle East hospitality may signal a reluctance to get on with the mission. Our interpersonal relationships often demand a quick and decisive response for the other in times when they are counting on us. Joe Zaborowski examines our willingness to put God first, others second and ourselves last. The message from the Scriptures today reinforces that we are on a journey which is our Life and we are too often distracted by the destination.