25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 112(113)
1Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

MONEY IN THE TRIBUNAL OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Today’s readings appear to be disparate in their themes. From the prophet Amos’ preaching against social injustice, we are led through St Paul’s exhortation to pray for those in authority to an appeal by Jesus to make good use of material goods. In effect, the parable of the crafty and unfaithful steward is one of the most difficult parables in the gospel accounts. This notwithstanding, few points for meditation are worth noting:

(1) The master praises his steward not because of his mismanagement but his prudence. Likewise, in telling his disciples to make friends for themselves with dishonest wealth, Jesus does not praise the dishonesty of this steward but his skill in dealing with material goods. His skill lies in his ability to use his position to make friends: faced with impending dismissal, he cancels important debts to win the sympathy and friendship of the debtors. He was clever in his dishonesty. He showed that he regarded money as a means and not as a goal. And this is the just attitude we should have towards money and material goods.

(2) Money or wealth is described by Jesus as "dishonest" because of how it brings out distorted values ​​in people. In fact, the inordinate pursuit of money can make people selfish, leading them to take advantage of others, to treat them as objects and to be unfaithful to God. This parable invites us therefore to be generous and responsible in the management of our resources. Money and our material resources will not accompany us to heaven. Thus, one must recognize their limits and use them for the good of others. Possessions come with responsibility. If one is trustworthy (faithful) in little things, he could be entrusted with greater things.

(3) Responsible and generous management of money and material goods will bring us closer to the poor, the powerless and the marginalized in our communities. And this is what the social doctrine of the Catholic Church calls “the preferential option of the poor”. Unfortunately, as in the time of the prophet Amos, the poor are rather exploited and oppressed instead of being cared for. Some political and even religious leaders use their people and faithful for their own selfish desires and maximize their profits. Hence, the mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, the widespread corruption and self-serving tax evasion that characterize our institutions.

Therefore, each of us is called to change his attitude towards money and wealth and also pray for our leaders so that they may be wise in promoting peace and justice in our society. May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Exodus 32:7-11.13-14
Psalm 51
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-32

THE FOUNTAIN OF MERCY

Today’s readings invite us to meditate on the mercy of God. We serve a God who is full of love, mercy and compassion, slow to anger and always ready to forgive our transgressions. In the first reading,  God relented from his blazing wrath when Moses pleaded on behalf of the people of Israel. For they transgressed the first commandment of the Lord their God by making a golden calf and worshipping it.

The responsorial psalm is one of the famous penitential psalm attributed to king David. It is believed that after his double crime of adultery with Bathsheba and of murder of Urriah, Bathsheba’s husband, he felt the weight of his sin; and so he pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness. In the second reading, St Paul expresses his joy and gratitude to Christ Jesus for his wonderful mercy and inexhaustible grace shown to him. He recognizes that he is a forgiven sinner and persecutor of the Church who tried to discredit the Christian faith. But God has been generous and merciful to him making him a minister of the Gospel.

The fifteen chapter of Luke’s gospel account has been known as the “gospel of the lost”. It presents three parables of Jesus as a response to the Pharisees and scribes who accused him of being in the company of sinners and tax-collectors: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost son (popularly known as the parable of the prodigal son). They give different images of God, but their message is the same: God is a Father who can go to any length to bring the sinner back to a loving relationship with himself. He loves everyone and wishes everyone to be at home. That is why he would go out looking for the lost, bring him back home and celebrate his return.

Thus, we serve a God who is merciful, compassionate and forgiving. He does not treat us as our faults deserve. Consequently, we may be sure of this: no matter how sinful we are, God still loves us. Despite our history often marked by failures, sin, and waywardness, God wants to make something great out of us. His outreaching love and unconditional compassion remain unchanging. Nevertheless, neither can we take his merciful love for granted nor consider his forgiveness as a “sinning license”. We must always strive to avoid the near occasion of sin so as not to go astray and get lost, but always remain at home with him. May we celebrate this Sunday Eucharist with grateful hearts as people reconciled with God their Father in Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and honour for ever and ever. Amen

22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Sirach 3:17-18.20.28-29

Psalm 68
Hebrews 12:18-19.22-24
Luke 14:1.7-14

BE HUMBLE!

Speaking about humility in the light of today’s readings may sound strange in our contemporary world for at least two reasons. First, we live in a society that celebrates titles, social prestige and power. Everybody wants to be at the first position and to feel important. Second, whenever we organize a party of any kind or a special diner, we invite “important” personalities, those who can leave behind a “fat envelope” or a gift when returning home. We make meticulous seating arrangement for the distinguished guesses, dignitaries, celebrities, etc. and we cautiously choose those to seat at the “high table”.

However, in the gospel, Jesus reverses this normal procedure and throws two challenges. First, when you are invited to a wedding banquet or to a party, take the lowest seats, he told those who were choosing the places of honour at a dining table. Second, when you organize a party, invite those who can do absolutely nothing to pay you back or to get you a social or professional promotion: the marginalized, the outcasts, and the untouched of our communities.

Jesus' party etiquettes and protocols characterized by humility may be socially difficult to observe in our days. But that is the demand in the kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, as the second reading teaches. He humbled himself taking the form of a servant so as to gather us all before God and make us co-citizens with the angels and saints in the heavenly Jerusalem. In this city of God, we are all firstborns, therefore equal in the eyes of the Living God.

The first reading invites us to be humble and modest in all our conducts. The author warns us against pride and self-glorification. In other words, if we are humble, we will find favour with God; people will love us too. Thus, the more we humble ourselves, the greater we become. In all, let us remember that there is nothing we have and are that is not from God. St Paul asked: “Who confers distinction upon you? What do you have that you have not received? And if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? (1Cor 4:7) Thus, humble yourself, and God will lift you up. Remain blessed!

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117
Hebrews 12:5-7.11-13
Luke 13:22-30

THE NARROW GATE

According to today’s readings, salvation should not be taken for granted. Going to Mass or being a member of a particular church does not guarantee salvation. To be saved or not to be saved depend on our personal relationship with the Lord, on how we conform our lifestyles to the message of the Gospel. In effect, the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading and Jesus’ sayings in today’s gospel might have sounded strange in the hearing of their respective Jewish audiences. The Jews had always believed that they were the chosen people of God; that they had the right to enter the kingdom of God. But according to the prophet, God is coming to gather nations of every language so that they may see his glory. He will even choose among them priests and Levites to bring him offerings.

In the Gospel, a question is put to Jesus: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answers this question by inviting the crowd to strive and enter through the narrow gate, for many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. Then he goes on to give a parable of the banquet in which will partake people from the four corners of the earth; but those who thought of themselves as having the right to the banquet will be cast out.

Accordingly, to be saved does not depend solely on how often we go to church. For it is not enough to have attended catechism classes, or to have received the sacraments, etc. It is not enough even to preach or work miracles in the name of Jesus. We must put the Word of God into practice. And this requires a daily effort. That is what it means to enter through the narrow gate.  The image of a “narrow gate” evokes striving, difficulty, effort and tiredness. The narrow gate is the way of love, mercy, forgiveness and justice. It is the way of joyfully accepting and bearing with suffering. It is the way of enduring trial as “discipline” from our loving Father in heaven.

Above all, we must remember that salvation is a free gift from God who is Love and Mercy. But each of us must strive to receive this gift and remain faithful to the end. However, we cannot do this without the grace of God. Thus, let us pray to him to grant us such grace to always walk on the way leading to our salvation. Amen