30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40

In the first reading, the Israelites had left Egypt and were no longer under Pharaoh and the laws of Egypt. The reading is a section of the guiding rules God gave to the Israelites on how to take care of the weak and the needy among them. The reading mentions aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor.

One would have expected the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt and who were on their way to the Promised Land to care and love one another. No! It was not long they had left Egypt, those among them who were more privileged turned on the aliens, the widows, the orphans, and the poor, molested them, oppressed them, and forcefully took what belonged to them; committing among themselves the same sins which they were delivered from in Egypt!

This is many countries’ experience. For example, Nigeria was colonized by Britian for over 60 years. Nigeria got independence in 1960. Seven years after the independence, Nigerians turned on themselves and plunged into a civil war that claimed more than three million lives within the three years the war lasted. Across the world, people are fleeing from their own countries, dying across deserts, drowning in seas, treated inhumanly by human smugglers and traffickers, and some places the escapees are seeking refuge because of oppression and cruelty by their own people.  Here in the United States, we see the menace of gun violence against one another. Senseless and mindless in-fighting exists in families, communities, parishes, and so on.

Therefore, the guiding rules God gave to the Israelites are as important to us today as they were for the Israelites. The plight of the poor and the underprivileged in our communities and society cannot be over emphasized. The heartless coveting and forceful possession of what belongs to the people and what should benefit the people, by corrupt and mischievous people, is well known. We continue to pray for the repentance of those who steal, kill, and plunder, and the corrupt and mischievous people who oppress the poor, the powerless, and the voiceless.

On our part, let us avoid greed and injustice and stand against those vices wherever we find ourselves. Let us always stand for fairness, justice, and compassion.

“You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan” (Exodus 20:20-21). This is justice and compassion. In the same vein, aliens, widows, and orphans are not to become thorns in the flesh of relatives and communities.

“If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors …, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in?” (Exodus 20:24-26). This is fairness and compassion. In the same vein, the poor person is to be humble instead of arrogant. A combination of poverty and arrogance is bad news.

Answering the question, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40). Love of God is not possible without love of neighbor. Human beings are images of God. St. John’s letter explains, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21). This means that the first law, love of God, is determined by the second law, love of neighbor. Where there is no love of neighbor, there is no love of God. Jesus makes it clearer when he says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

For all of us, our love for one another will go far with humility, fairness, compassion, and justice. May God bless us with these virtues. Amen.

29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21

Today is World Mission Sunday. It is a Sunday set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activities through prayer and sacrifice. We are invited to, constantly, pray for the success of the Church’s missionary activities all over the world. In addition to our prayers, we are, also, invited to offer material and financial support to the Church’s missionary activities. We are all missionaries, either by going to the missions or by praying for missionaries or by giving to support or sustain the missions. Also, today, in a special way, we pray for men and women of goodwill who sacrifice their resources to support God’s work in the missions.

For this year’s World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the theme, “Hearts on fire, feet on the move” drawn from the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. The Pope writes, “Those two disciples were confused and dismayed, but their encounter with Christ in the word and in the breaking of the bread sparked in them the enthusiastic desire to set out again towards Jerusalem and proclaim that the Lord had truly risen. … their hearts burned within them as they heard the Scriptures explained by Jesus, their eyes were opened as they recognized him (in the breaking of bread), and ultimately, their feet set out on the way. By meditating on these three images, which reflect the journey of all missionary disciples, we can renew our zeal for evangelization in today’s world.”

The readings present to us individuals God sent on various missions. In the first reading is King Cyrus. Although he was a Persian pagan king, God anointed him and gave him the mission to set the people of Israel free from the Babylonian captivity. In the second reading are Paul, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy. God gave them the mission of preaching the Good News. We recall that Paul was a persecutor of Christians, but God made him “a chosen instrument” (Acts 9:15). Silvanus and Timothy were converts to Christianity. They became Paul’s co-workers and great missionaries. That God used Cyrus, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy as his chosen instruments, not minding their past and former ways of life, is an encouragement to us that God calls everyone and wants to use everyone to continue the mission of Jesus at various levels. Everyone is qualified!

The mission of Jesus which we are to continue is as in Luke 4:18, proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, bring recovery of sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free. In Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons.” And as in Matthew 25:35-40, give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, and visit prisoners.

The mission of Jesus is in faraway lands and within and around us. Therefore, let us pray to have the spirit of mission like Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, and other great missionaries through whose sacrifice Christianity reached the ends of the earth and has survived till our time. Let our hearts burn within us; let our eyes be opened; and let our feet set out on the way, as Pope Francis demands of us in his message. Let us proceed without delay like Mary, the mother of Jesus. When she received the message concerning her cousin, Elizabeth, the word of God says, “She set out and went with haste” to be with Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56). What a great mission! There is always an ‘Elizabeth’ somewhere who needs our attention and support. Each of us has a mission. Let us set out and go with haste.

There are four stages of mission:  Stage one is CALL to mission from God. Stage two is ACCEPTANCE of mission from us. Stage three is GOD’S GRACE for the mission from God. Stage four is mission ACCOMPLISHMENT by God and us.

However, every mission has its tests, difficulties, and challenges. There were tests, difficulties, and challenges for Jesus, as we see in today’s gospel. The Pharisees and the Herodians plotted to entrap him by putting him to test. There were tests, difficulties, and challenges for Paul and Silas. In Macedonia, they were falsely accused, beaten severely, and thrown into prison (Acts 16:16-40). Paul boasts of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 of being in prison several times, flogged severely several times, and exposed to death several times. Therefore, we are not to be discouraged by mission tests, difficulties, and challenges since we rely on God’s grace and not on ourselves.

St. Paul boasts of his sufferings. What sufferings for the sake of the Good News can I boast of?

Let us pray: O Lord, by your grace, let our hearts burn within us, let our eyes be opened, and let our feet set out on the way to the mission you have given to us. Amen.

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14

The first reading is Isaiah’s prophecy of the mission of Jesus Christ. Every word in the first reading is fulfilled in Jesus: “A feast of rich food and choice wines… The veil that veils all peoples, he will destroy, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove… Behold, our God to whom we looked to save us!” (Isaiah 25:7-9). Jesus provided all these when he came. He is still providing them in our time. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The gospel is the parable of the wedding feast. The Jews who refused to accept Jesus were those who either had excuses or ignored the wedding invitation and who mistreated and killed the messengers of the king. Those who were gathered from the streets to fill the hall were the Jews and the non-Jews who accepted the message of salvation and became followers of Jesus.

Why, then, was someone who was called from the street be punished for not having dressed in a wedding garment? In the ancient Middle East marriage feasts, special wedding garments were provided by the host, so that everyone dressed well. To refuse to wear the wedding garment, provided free of charge by the host, and decided to remain in shabby clothing, was an act of disobedience and a dishonor to the host and the celebration.

For Catholics, the Holy Eucharist is our earthly wedding banquet, which is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. The parable reminds us that the heavenly banquet awaits us after our earthly journey. Our wedding garment here on earth is life in Christ, which we must put on. St. Paul writes in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” We must, therefore, discard the shabby clothes of sin (desires of the flesh) and put on Christ.

This means that salvation is freely offered, but heaven is merited. Therefore, while on this earthly journey, as St. Paul invites us to, “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). St. Paul describes what awaits us in heaven: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived; the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In the parable, “Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them” (Matthew 22:5-6). Nowadays, ignoring the Mass while doing nothing or preoccupied with other businesses has become common for many Catholics. The persecution of God’s ministers has also become widespread.

Someone asked recently whether it is still a mortal sin to miss Sunday Mass, considering how a lot of Catholics go to Mass nowadays, only when it is convenient for them or when there are activities and not as obligatory spiritual exercise. The fourth Commandments says, “Remember the Sabbath (the Lord’s Day), keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin” (CCC 2181). The Commandment and the teaching of the Catholic Church have not changed!

TV, Facebook, and YouTube Masses are only for the sick, the homebound, and those unable to go to Mass out of necessity; not for those who intentionally miss Mass. Someone says, "Put God first, and everything will fall into place."

St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Let us seek God first, for he is our strength. We are assured in the first reading, “The veil that veils all peoples, he will destroy, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove… Behold, our God to whom we looked to save us!” (Isaiah 25:7-9).

Amen.

27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9, 12-16; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

The first reading is a parable and Isaiah’s prophecy of the conquest of Jerusalem and Judah by Assyria in 701 BC, which was God’s punishment to the Israelites for their ingratitude and godlessness. Judah was God’s cherished vineyard that produced wild grapes instead of good grapes. Instead of judgement and justice, there were bloodshed and outcry from the oppressed.

In the gospel, Jesus told the chief priests and the elders a parable about the tenants who rebelled against the landowner. They assaulted and killed the landowner’s servants. They also killed his son. Jesus presented this parable as a prophesy about himself, concerning his rejection by the chief priests and the elders, and his crucifixion by them. Jesus ended the parable with a quotation from Psalm 118:22, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Builders at the time of Jesus used stones to form pillars for buildings. Jesus is the cornerstone of salvation rejected by the chief priests and the elders. Whoever rejects Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of salvation, labors and builds in vain (Psalm 127:1). Jesus says, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Many countries and their rulers are like the vineyard of God in the first reading and the wicked and ungrateful tenants in the gospel reading. God blessed the countries with resources to benefit the citizens. Instead of good judgement and justice, what we see are greed, corruption, bloodshed, and outcry. In those places, human beings turn God’s blessings into curses and tragedies. May God rescue his oppressed children.

Also, we know many instances of individuals who are architects of their own self-destruction. Due to greed and vanity, they turn from cherished vineyard to wild vineyard and produce wild grapes instead of good grapes.

God gave human beings a beautiful world and the authority to subdue everything in it. Then human beings rebel against God and reject him. In many places, God is removed from politics, administration, judiciary, economy, business, science, technology, education, mass media, medicine, family, and religion. Religion is included because some people worship mammon and Satan instead of God.

We are God’s vineyards (first reading) and his tenants (gospel reading). As vineyards who have received so many blessings from God, we are to be grateful to him; and we are to bear good fruits. As tenants (stewards), we are to be productive and accountable. We are not to be destructive, rebellious, and unaccountable. Jesus says, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48).

In the second reading, St. Paul gives us a guide to bear good fruits, to be productive, and to be accountable. He tells us to keep before us and to pursue “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Finally, St. Paul encourages us that as stewards of God’s work, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6). Amen.