Homily - 30A Sunday homily (29 October 2023) The Greatest Commandment

 

30A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 22:34­-40, October 29, 2023

1. STORY

Three women, who were at the well to get water, were talking about their sons.  There was an elderly man sitting nearby who heard their conversation.  The first mother said her son was always the first in his class. The second mother said her son sang beautifully.  The third mother said nothing.  When asked by the two mothers about her silence, she replied that her son had no special talents.  Just as the mothers were carrying their two heavy water buckets home, the three sons appeared.  The first boy recited a beautiful poem, and the second one sang a beautiful song.  The third boy helped his mother by carrying the two heavy water buckets.  The first two women asked the elderly man what he thought of their sons.  He asked them where their two sons were as he saw only one son.  The elderly man continued by saying that a truly talented son is one who shows his love by his actions.

 

2. GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22:34­-40 

A. THE QUESTION, WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT?

A scholar of the law asked Jesus a very difficult question as there were over 100 important commandments in the Jewish religion.  He wanted to know which one was the most important as this was a topic often discussed. 

B. THE ANSWER - LOVE GOD, YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND YOURSELF

Without hesitation, Jesus answered this important question by telling the scholar the most important command is to love God and then your neighbor as yourself.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. LOVE GOD

The way to love our heavenly father is by obeying the ten commandments.  We should thank him for the many blessings we receive from him each day.  We ask him for the strength to follow the good example of Jesus. 

B. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

We love our neighbor by our actions.  We are kind, respectful, and patient with others in our speech.  We give our time and use our talents to help others who are in need as the boy helped his mother carry the heavy water buckets.

 

C. LOVE YOURSELF

We do this by caring for our health.  We try to eat properly, exercise as much as possible, get enough rest, and slow down our busy lives to the best of our ability.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Only one of the three sons helped his mother by carrying the water buckets.  This is a true sign of filial love.  Love is shown by action. To the question of what is the greatest commandment, Jesus’ answer was love God, your neighbor, and yourself.  We do this in many ways by obeying the ten commandments, helping others by our words and actions, and caring for our health by eating properly, getting enough rest and slowing down the pace of our lives.

Homily - 29A Sunday homily (22 October 2023) Give to Caesar what is Caesar's

 

29A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 22:15-21, OCTOBER 22, 2023 

STORY

One day God visited Adam and Eve and their children so that he could give each child a special blessing.  Each child, in turn, knelt before God.  God blessed the first one and made him a king.  The second he blessed and made a princess.  He blessed the third one and made her a teacher.  The fourth one he blessed and made him a farmer.  The fifth one was blessed and made a carpenter.  The sixth one God made a servant.  Eve complained to God that the blessings were so unequal.  She said one you made a king and another a servant.  God explained to Eve that all were important as there were so many different tasks to be done in the world.  Each had a different function as the parts of a body.  They all blend together and support each other.  Eve finally realized that all her children were important no matter what position they had.

 

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22;15-21

GIVE TO CAESAR WHAT IS CAESAR'S

Jesus informed the people that Caesar, the legitimate government, was important in their lives.  They had a responsibility to support, obey and pay taxes to the government.

 

GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S

At the same time Jesus reminded the people that they had an even more important responsibility to give to God, the creator and sustainer of the world, what is God's as God was most important in their lives.

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE

THE GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT

1) An efficient, honest and responsible government is very important in our lives.  It provides hospitals, schools, police, firemen and runs prisons.  It keeps the roads repaired, and subways, buses, boats and planes running.  It provides us with safe food, clean water and garbage removal.  We need a good government to make life livable.

2) We have a responsibility to be good citizens, by obeying the law, and support the government by paying just taxes.

 

GOD IS MOST IMPORTANT

1)Though many are not aware of God's love, care and guidance, we are blessed to have this precious knowledge.  God created us and the universe and keeps it running.  He provides us with all the basics of life, sun, rain, air, and the earth.  He sent Jesus who saved us and gave us eternal life.

2) We have blessings from God, and we also have responsibilities towards him.  We must pray daily to God thanking, praising and asking for help.  We must obey God who is our loving father.  We must tell others about God so they too can follow him. 

 

CONCLUSION

In the story God blessed each child in a different way but all were equally important in his eyes.  In the gospel Jesus teaches us that we have a responsibility to our government, Caesar, and a responsibility to God.  We must pay taxes to the government, and we must be good, obedient, and thankful children of God.

Homily - 28A Sunday homily (15 October 2023) The parable of the banquet

 

28A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 22:1-14, OCTOBER 15, 2023 

1. STORY

I asked a priest friend, who had just returned from Rome, what was it he enjoyed most when he was in Rome.  I thought he might say a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, or a visit to the catacombs, or a famous building.  To my great surprise, he said the highlight of his trip was having breakfast with Pope St. John Paul II.  When he learned that it was possible for a priest to do this, he immediately applied for the privilege thinking he would not be so lucky as to be selected.  To his great surprise and delight, he was informed to be at the Vatican in the morning.  He was one of a group of priests who attended the Pope’s Mass which was followed by breakfast with the Pope.  That morning was what he enjoyed most when he was in Rome.

 

2. GOSPEL: Matthew 22:1-14

A. THE KING PREPARD A BANQUET

The king prepared a wonderful wedding banquet for his son.  He prepared the very best foods for this joyful event as he wanted his guests who attended to be happy. 

B. THE RESPONSE OF THE INVITED

Despite the great honor of being invited to this great meal, those invited refused to come.  They were busy with their farm, business, or other activities.  They ignored the invitation, so the king invited others to the feast.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. THE MASS IS TODAY’S BANQUET

The Mass is today’s banquet prepared for us by God our king.  During this great feast, there are three things to remember.  First, we are blessed to be able to hear the instructive word of God which guides us as we travel through life.  As today’s psalm says, “He guides me in right paths.”  Second, we receive the Eucharist, the bread of life, which gives us strength to be strong and faithful disciples of Jesus. The psalm continues, “Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.”  Third, we have the opportunity to praise God, to thank him for all his blessings, to ask for forgiveness, and to make requests for ourselves and for others. 

B. GOD INVITES US TO THIS BANQUET. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THESE THREE POINTS. 

First, we are blessed to be invited to this great banquet.  We say at each Mass, “Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” Second, we should make every effort to attend SUNDAY Mass and we should come to Mass a few minutes before Mass to prepare our hearts and minds to participate properly.  Third, we must listen carefully to the word of God and the homily and receive the Eucharist each time you attend Mass except if you have committed a mortal sin.

 

4. CONCLUSION

The highlight of my priest friend’s visit to Rome was to have a meal

with the Pope.  This was a great honor, and he was overjoyed to be selected to attend.  In the parable of the banquet, it was a king who invited the guests to come and to enjoy his company and food.  They sadly refused the invitation and so the king invited others to come to this great event.  The Mass is the great banquet God has prepared for us.  We should feel honored and blessed to be chosen to attend this great meal.  We should attend Mass every Sunday, be on time, listen carefully to the message that God has for us, and receive Holy Communion except when in the state of mortal sin.  Blessed are those who are invited to the Supper of the Lamb.

Homily - 27A Sunday homily (08 October 2023) The parable of the two sons

 

27A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 21:33­-43 October 8, 2023 

1. STORY

Two farmers with horse ­driven wagons were on their way to sell tomatoes in the village.  They and their horses were tired as they approached a hill on the journey.  One decided to stop and rest. 

The second, fearful that the tomatoes might become ruined, encouraged his friend to continue on.  Just then Jesus and Peter were walking by when they saw one farmer working hard to get up the hill while the other was sleeping.  Jesus helped him so he was able to get his wagon up the hill, but Jesus did not help the sleeping farmer.  Peter was puzzled and asked Jesus why he helped one and not the other.  Jesus replied that he looked into their hearts.  The hard­working farmer was concerned about his wife, his children, and his aging parents.  He had to sell the vegetables to help them.  The sleeping farmer was thinking only of himself and so he slept.  Jesus helped the one who was concerned about others.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 21:33­-43

A. THE FARMERS WERE UNJUST TO THE OWNER

The owner planted the vineyard, built a fence around it, dug a vat, and erected a tower.  The farmers were tenant farmers.  They did not own the land.  They had an obligation to share the produce with the owner. They refused to do this.  They thought only of themselves.  We are the farmers as we are sent to work in the world, God’s vineyard. 

B. THE FARMERS WERE UNJUST TO THOSE SENT BY THE OWNER. The farmers treated those who were sent to collect the produce very badly.  We must be just to others who are sent by God to work in the world.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. WE MUST BE JUST TO GOD

God has put us into his vineyard, the world.  We must be obedient and faithful workers by helping him to make this a better world.  We do this by our prayers and by hearing his word for guidance and receiving the Eucharist for spiritual strength. 

B. WE MUST BE GOOD TO OTHERS.  GOD HAS SENT OTHERS TO WORK IN THE WORLD.

We must be good to others by our words and actions.  We do this by being kind, polite, and respectful in our speech.  We must be cooperative, sacrificing, and forgiving in our actions.  The way we deal with people will make this a better world which is the way God wants this world to be.

 

4. CONCLUSION

One farmer thought only of himself.  The other farmer thought of his family.  Jesus helped the one who not only thought of himself but also of others.  The tenant farmers were punished because they thought only of themselves by refusing to share the produce with the owner and mistreating those sent to gather the produce.  God has sent us to the world, his vineyard, so we must be just to God and good to others.