JESUS TAKES TO TASK THE PHARISEES (Mt 23:1-12)

Monday, October 17, 2005

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Mt 22:34-40

BACKGROUND

The question posed on Jesus is meant to divide the multitudes for or against Jesus. There are 613 commandments of the Talmud. By choosing one among the 613, there will surely be those who will disagree and, therefore, go against Jesus.

But Jesus did not choose from any of them. Jesus went beyond the commandments of the Talmud. He pointed to the Commandment of Love as the commandment that covers all other commandments and that provides the motivation for obeying them. Indeed, love is what makes obedience to God's commandments life-giving.

Come to think of it. The answer of Jesus is not surprising. For as John's letter said: God is love.

STORY
Love in Action

I came across this story in Reader's Digest. The writer claims it is a true-to-life story. It happened during the Vietnam war.

One day the medics brought a badly injured boy to the field hospital. His young friends accompanied him.

The injured boy needed blood transfusion. The doctors and nurses did not know how to speak vietnamese. But they had to tell the young friends that their injured boy needed blood and if they would volunteer to donate.

As they tried to explain in sign language, fear registered in the eyes of the young friends. Finally one boy raised his hand.

They had him lied down and the procedure started. After a while the boy started to speak. He was crying as he did so. The nurses came to him to comfort him.

A translator happened to pass by the field hospital. He was called to the boy's side. They spoke. Then the translator began to laugh as he talked to the boy. The doctors and nurses asked the translator what happened.

He told them that the young friends thought that the doctors were asking them for a volunteer to give all his blood to the injured friend. And the boy who volunteered was crying because he wanted to know if his end was near.

CONCLUSION

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is love. He also said that there is no greater love than this than to lay down one's life for one's friend.

PS
By the way love is not a noun. It is a verb.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? (Mt 22:15-21)

Herodians
They were supporters of Herod the Great and his family. They favored collaboration with the romans. If Jesus took the position of not paying taxes, they would report him to the Romans.

Pharisees
They were against Roman occupation, but opted for peaceful means. The zealots on the other hand, opted for violent means. Simon the zealot became an apostle of Jesus. People in general resented Roman occupation. If he took the position of paying taxes, he would antagonize them. Either way Jesus answered, he would be a loser.

Denarius
This was the coin used to pay the census tax. It bore the portrait of Tiberus and bore the inscription: Tiberius Caesar, Son of the Divine Augustus. By possessing the denarius, the Herodians and the disciples of the Pharisees accepted the fact of Roman occupation, though grudgingly, and its benefits and thus, also the duty of taxation. But they are also to give to God what belongs to God, something which they have failed to do, as the two previous parables have shown (parable of the vineyard and parable of the wedding feast).

REFLECTION

Justice

It is the virtue by which we give to everyone what is due to him (what he has a right to).

Duties to self

Preserving one's health, developing our minds, our character, our talents. We do not only have the duty of earning a living but also making our life worth living. We have the highest duty of saving our souls.

Duties to others.

Spouses have the duties of fidelity, support, companionship, forgiveness and understanding.

Parents have the duty of providing their children food, clothing, shelter, love, education and training.

For citizens, JFK said it so beautifully: Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.

We have the duty to know, love and serve God. Sunday Mass is something we owe him. Obedience to his commandments is another.

Final thought

Everyone seems to be conscious of their rights. But how many are as aware and as concerned about his duties. Perhaps our country would be in better shape if we were more conscientious about fulfilling our duties.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST (22:1-14)

The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
The king is God. The king's son is the messiah.

He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast.
The servants are the prophets and the apostles. The guests are the Jews.

The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
The destruction of Jeruslem is meant here.

Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.
The new guests from the streets are the sinners and the gentiles.

He saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The wedding garment was clean and white clothing.

Notes

Last Sunday's parable and this Sunday's parable are to be understood in the same way. God chose Israel first but the Jews did not respond with obedience and faith. The Jews were punished and God's choice passes on to others.

The parable of the wedding garment teaches that it is not enough to be a member of the church. One must be clothed with faith and good works.

REFLECTION

Sunday Mass - God's Feast for His Children

A grandmother died at 81. At 78 she had a stroke. After recovering, relatives told his grandson, "She doesn't have to go to Mass anymore." Overhearing them, the old woman remarked: "I never went to church because I HAD to."

When will the time come when everyone will join Sunday Mass not because they have to, but becasue they want to?

Only when we have learned to love God from the heart.