In the Gospel parable of the two sons, the evangelist is contrasting the response of the pious and the impious to the preaching of Jesus. The two sons represent the two groups of faithful. The first son is representative of the “professionally religious” who know the law and the prophets and believe that by reciting the right words, they will be saved, even if not internally being changed. The second son is representative of undesirables that heard the preaching of the Gospel and were really changed. The words of Jesus tell us that “tax collectors and prostitutes” have come to the way of righteousness by true conversion of heart. Dichotomies such as these are instructive in presenting the Gospel message in clear terms understandable to the Church.

The passage from Ezekiel sets up the dichotomy of the wicked and the truly converted that “preserves” his life because he has turned away from sin. The wicked is in danger of losing his life, while the changed person will be saved.

The passage from Philippians includes the well known hymn about Jesus who humbled himself to being born in human likeness of a slave. The first part of the reading lists attributes that Paul articulates are important for the community to have if they are to follow the example of Jesus. The community is to be encouraging in love, sharing of spirit, compassion and mercy. The Christian should have consolation in Christ. If the community exhibits these characteristics they will be faithful to Christ and “complete Paul’s joy.”

© 2008, OCP. All rights reserved.

top

The Gospel of this Sunday tells the familiar and troubling story of a vineyard owner who hires men to work in his field, at all hours of the day. He promises the first the “usual daily wage”. The others hired later in the day are promised, “whatever is just”. At day’s end, the last workers hired are paid a full day’s wage, those hired throughout the day and those hired early in the morning are paid the same, which some find “unjust”. This parable situated in Matthew’s Gospel between the sayings about the first ( 19:30 ) and the last ( 20:16 ) sends a message to the community about the importance of being faithful workers in the Lord’s vineyard whether they heard the message of the Gospel first, or only lately in the life of the early church. It is God’s justice that is the object of this parable and explains why Jesus preached the kingdom of God to the people of Israel and the “lost sheep” of the house of Israel .

The first reading, seen in relief against the Gospel of today, uses Isaiah to emphasize that God’s ways are not our ways. God’s ways are beyond human comprehension, and especially God’s justice has been difficult for the human mind to grasp. The promise to Israel and to the Church is the same, “Seek the Lord, and he may be found;” enter into the kingdom of God and receive the reward of working in the Lord’s field. The selection from the Letter to the Philippians articulates the significance of Paul’s continued preaching for the Christian community, that is, his preaching is for the benefit of the community. Concluding is an admonition to the Philippians to live lives worthy of the Gospel.

© 2008, OCP. All rights reserved.

top

The readings for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross give the single simple message: salvation comes through Christ's death on the cross. Just as in the first reading Moses lifts up the bonze serpent in the desert to save the people from death, so Christ allows himself to be lifted up on the cross in order to save us and bring us to eternal life.

What is particularly interesting about the first reading is that the people are saved from death even though they had not been very faithful to God. Who knows how long it was after the miracle of the Exodus from Egypt, days, maybe a week or two, but it did not take long for the people to forget what God had done there and for the people to start complaining. The sweet manna had become loathsome to the people and they just wanted the journey to be done. When the serpents afflict them they wake up and realize that the journey with God is all that there is. So they repent, remember what God has done and God forgives them. The psalm response in particular brings this out for us in our lives. We need always to remember that everything we have is from God.

The magnificent Philippians hymn completes the picture for us, reminding us what Christ did - taking on humanity, taking on the form of a slave, dying on the cross. In short, God in Christ gave all. And that is the glory of the cross for us.

© 2008, OCP. All rights reserved.

top

The prophet Ezekiel is charged to make the nation aware of their shortcomings, lest they die. The prophet is warned that should he not make known Israel’s sins to the people, they will die, but his life will likewise be required of him. If the “wicked” are warned and do not repent, they will perish, however, the prophet will live.

The selection from Paul’s Letter to the Romans lists a number of the commandments from the Decalogue, yet sums them up with one of the “greatest” commandments, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. In the epistle, Paul is reflecting on the place of the law in the Christian life. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, and Christians are charged to “love” as this is the epitome of living a life of faithfulness.

Matthew’s Gospel provides a periscope on church discipline. If a member of the body needs correction, first you can approach him privately, if this does not work, then you are charged to bring witnesses. If the person in the wrong, does not listen, then the entire Church is to be involved in trying to set the “brother” who sinned on the right path. If all else fails, the person is to be treated as an outsider and basically excommunicated from the church. Apologetics will use the conclusion of today’s Gospel to provide a foundation for the sacrament of confession. The Church is granted the power and charge of reconciliation. In conclusion, the promise is given that where “two or three are gathered in my name”, I will be present in their midst. This is a testament to the proximate presence of Christ that the early community experienced when gathered in prayer.

© 2008, OCP. All rights reserved.

top