Rich Man, Poor Man

  

                  26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                  C cycle

 

 

 

Just like last week, today's first reading is from the Book of the prophet Amos. We must remember that for the most part, prophecy is not about foretelling the future but about calling attention to the wrongs in the present. Amos is no exception. His criticism of the idleness and greed of the well-to-do in his own time seems to ring true in our time as well. 

 

He says, "Woe to the complacent in Zion!" What accusations does he bring? Their homes are furnished luxuriously. They eat the choicest foods and drink the finest wines. They sing and dance with abandon. Today, we have cable channels devoted to each of those subjects. We have food channels, fashion channels, music channels, and home improvement channels.

 

One of the key messages of the Hebrew scriptures is the obligation to care for the lowly and the poor. All were expected to act as good stewards on behalf of those in need. In today's first reading the Prophet Amos claims that his people have failed to come to the aid of the needy, and that they will suffer the consequences.

 

This same theme is the subject of today's gospel where Jesus tells the famous parable of the rich man and the poor beggar, Lazarus. This parable is the third famous story in the sixteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel. Two weeks ago we heard the story of the Prodigal Son, and last week it was the story of the unjust steward who cheated his master. Jesus tells the  stories to a group of Pharisees who were known for their strict, even rigid observance of every aspect of the Law. Jesus complains that while they make an outward show of goodness, they fail to abide by the true spirit of the Law. 

 

Isn’t it obvious that the stories are directed to us as well. We live in the richest country in the history of the world. Even in economic hard times the poor in our country are more well off than most of the rest of the people on the globe. A few years ago I heard a priest say that there are 7 million street boys in Brazil alone. These abandoned street children are ill-clothed, ill-fed, ill-housed, and ill-educated. Most are already involved in criminal activity and will surely not even live to manhood. Efforts to help often seem fruitless and counter-productive. It breaks your heart.

 

What can we do? Frankly, I think it would take a great saint like Mother Teresa to deal with such a problem. But she started out by reaching out to heal one single child. From that point, through prayer and self sacrifice she built a world wide order of sisters devoted to caring for the poor. Most of us cannot match the zeal and skill of this great woman but maybe we could profit by looking closely at today’s gospel.

 

First, Jesus makes the care of the needy a personal thing. He does not talk about curing world hunger and bringing about world peace. He focuses on two men: one is incredibly rich and the other incredibly poor. The poor man does not live far away on another continent. He lives (maybe it’s more accurate to say dies) right outside the rich man’s palace. Jesus is saying that the Pharisees could have used the excuse that the beggar was unclean according to the Law, and not touchable by any self-respecting person. But Jesus is saying that this excuse in not available to us. The spirit of the law requires us to help.

 

Thank goodness most of us do. St. Paul certainly understood the message of today’s gospel. He tells the young priest, Timothy, that he has the obligation to see Christ in all those entrusted to his care, and urges him to follow the example of Jesus and “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.” In another letter, he told Timothy, 

 

if we deny Him

He will deny us.

###

Reading 1. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Reading II. 1 Timothy 6: 11-16

Gospel. Luke 16: 19-31( Dives and Lazurus).

 

Prophets

                       26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                      B cycle

 

       

What are we to make of this puzzling first reading from the Book of Numbers? Who has ever heard of Eldad and Medad, the two unlikely prophets? They are certainly not ranked among the great Hebrew prophets like Isaiah and Elijah. 

 

In today’s account we are told that Eldad and Medad were left behind in the Hebrew camp when the Lord’s spirit came upon 70 elders in the same way that it had come upon Moses. In other words, these seventy were to share in the work of Moses. It was like our sacrament of Confirmation where the Bishop, who has already received the Spirit, shares it with the newly confirmed.

 

However, a problem arose because apparently Eldad and Medad received the Spirit even though they were not present at the ceremony. Our reading tells us that Joshua, the closest disciple of Moses, took offense and urged Moses to forbid Eldad and Medad from prophesying.  Moses replied,

 

Are you jealous for my sake?

Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!

Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all! 

 

Moses understood that the Lord could bestow His Spirit on whomever he chose, whenever He chose, and wherever He chose. 

 

It is no coincidence that the Church pairs this reading about Moses, Eldad, and Medad, with today’s gospel account. Moses was the savior of the Israelites. He had led them out of the slavery of Egypt. Jesus, of course, is the savior of us all. Moreover, we are told in today’s gospel that the Spirit of the Lord was just as bountiful and unpredictable as it was in the time of Moses. 

 

You may remember that in last week’s gospel the Apostles had been arguing among themselves about which of them was the greatest. Now another bone of contention comes up. John, one of the twelve chosen Apostles, tells Jesus that they saw someone who was not a disciple driving out demons in the name of Jesus. In other words, John believed that only he and the other Apostles and disciples of Jesus, who had been called to do his work, were the ones who could do the work.

 

In the same way that Moses told Joshua not to impede the good works of Eldad and Medad, Jesus tells John and the others not to impede anyone doing good works in His name. He teaches John and the others that the spirit of God moves in many and mysterious ways.

 

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name

Who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink

Because you belong to Christ,

Amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

 

The spirit of God is infinitely more powerful than any human being can understand. We certainly cannot control it. Nor can we think that it only operates through standard bureaucratic channels. Notice that in this passage Jesus says that anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink will receive a reward. That’s all it takes. We don’t give drink to the thirsty or food to the hungry because we are Christians. When we give drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry, we become Christian. 

 

The rest of today’s gospel deals with the burdens we put upon ourselves that Jesus compares to putting a large millstone around our neck. It contains the famous words about cutting off a hand or foot, or plucking out one’s eye if they are leading you astray. 

 

While not to be taken literally, the words used by Jesus are strong. In today’s second reading from the letter of the apostle James, we see how they were understood by his disciples. The hand, the foot, and the eye are just symbols of things like wealth, power, and prestige that we think will bring happiness. But:

 

You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;

You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

 

Prophets did not so much tell the future as point out the evils in their own time. James was as good a prophet as any, but he was just an ordinary fisherman until he was called by Jesus, and encountered the Spirit of the Lord. I don’t know what the names Eldad and Medad mean but I like to think they could be translated as just “you” and “me.” As Moses said, it would be good if we were all prophets. 

 

 

###

Note. Image of Capernaum millstone.

Reading 1.  Numbers 11: 25-29

Reading II. James 5: 1-6

Gospel. Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48 (whoever is not against us, is for us)

A Man Had Two Sons

                   Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

                  A cycle

 

 

It’s not fair! It seems like even as far back as the time of the prophet Ezekiel, people were complaining that life is not fair. More specifically, they were complaining that the Lord’s way is not fair. Is it fair that people who have lived good, upstanding lives should not attain happiness because of one mistake? Actually Ezekiel is saying that it takes more than one mistake. He speaks of someone who deliberately turns away from virtue to seek what he calls iniquity. 

 

In the same way, is it fair for someone who has led a life of iniquity to be saved by a conversion at the last minute? We saw in last week’s gospel that those who had labored only an hour got the same wage as those who had worked a whole day. Is that fair? Nevertheless, throughout the gospels we are told that the Lord has a special concern for those who have strayed or gone away. Moreover, we are told that we should rejoice when they are found.

 

Today’s gospel gives us a similar lesson. It is the parable of the man with two sons. One is asked by his father to go work in the vineyard but refuses. But later he decides to do the work. The other son is also asked to go to the vineyard and says yes, but then never shows up. When Jesus asked, “Which of the two did his father’s will,” his hearers readily agreed that it was the first son despite his initial refusal.

 

It’s easy to understand the moral of this parable but hard to apply it to our own lives. Many of us have been coming to Church our whole lives but might also be dealing with children who refuse to go. They’ve said no but we also know that many of our fallen away relatives and friends are actually working in the vineyard. They are supporting their families, educating and directing their children, and even, in many cases, taking care of their elderly parents. 

 

I have to admit that some of the most Christian people I know do not believe in God or practice any religion. Like it or not, they are cooperating with the grace of God. Sadly, I have to admit that some of the devout Catholics I have known would not even give you the time of day. Someone once said, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

 

In today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians he warns the community at Philippi to beware of complacency and selfishness.

 

Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory,

Rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

Each looking our not for his own interests,

But also for those of others.

 

We all know that our favorite subject is ourselves. We never tire of talking about ourselves, our interests and our concerns. We use social media to tell our story to all who will listen, and even love to take pictures of ourselves and put them on the web. Today, even Senior citizens know about “Selfies”. 

 

How many times do we meet someone and all they do is talk about themselves? Worse, how many times do we meet someone, and all we do is talk about ourselves? Selfishness can certainly be observed in even young children. One only has to attend a modern birthday party where the birthday boy or girl sits on a veritable throne. Of course, teenagers are notorious for selfishness. Often their words and actions seem to indicate that the whole world revolves around them.

 

For many young adults the responsibilities of work and family will help to overcome selfishness, but it is really sad to see men and women shirking their own family and work responsibilities out of an excessive concern for their own self. Unfortunately, Senior citizens are not immune from selfishness. What can be worse than being confronted by a Senior citizen anxious to tell you all about themselves.

 

I guess you could say that selfishness is part of our human nature. Perhaps, it is even a kind of protective spiritual armor. In any case, it requires a supernatural gift or grace to overcome our natural tendencies. St. Paul tells the Philippians to follow the example of Jesus.

 

Have in you the same attitude

That is also in Christ Jesus…

He emptied himself,

Taking the form of a slave,…

He humbled himself,

Becoming obedient to the point of death…

 

When we think of the two sons in today’s gospel, we should think of the first son, who despite his own selfish refusal, gave up his own self to do the father’s work in the vineyard.  Time and time again in the gospels we are told that it is only in giving up our selves that we will find our true self.

 

###

Reading 1. Ezekiel 18: 25-28

Reading II. Philippians 2: 1-11

Gospel. Matthew 21: 28-32 (A man had two sons)

Rich Man, Poor Man

 

                  26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                  C cycle

 

 

 

Just like last week, today's first reading is from the Book of the prophet Amos. We must remember that for the most part, prophecy is not about foretelling the future but about calling attention to the wrongs in the present. Amos is no exception. His criticism of the idleness and greed of the well-to-do in his own time seems to ring true in our time as well. 

 

He says, "Woe to the complacent in Zion!" What accusations does he bring? Their homes are furnished luxuriously. They eat the choicest foods and drink the finest wines. They sing and dance with abandon. Today, we have cable channels devoted to each of those subjects. We have food channels, fashion channels, music channels, and home improvement channels.

 

One of the key messages of the Hebrew scriptures is the obligation to care for the lowly and the poor. All were expected to act as good stewards on behalf of those in need. In today's first reading the Prophet Amos claims that his people have failed to come to the aid of the needy, and that they will suffer the consequences.

 

This same theme is the subject of today's gospel where Jesus tells the famous parable of the rich man and the poor beggar, Lazarus. This parable is the third famous story in the sixteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel. Two weeks ago we heard the story of the Prodigal Son, and last week it was the story of the unjust steward who cheated his master. Jesus tells the  stories to a group of Pharisees who were known for their strict, even rigid observance of every aspect of the Law. Jesus complains that while they make an outward show of goodness, they fail to abide by the true spirit of the Law. 

 

Isn’t it obvious that the stories are directed to us as well. We live in the richest country in the history of the world. Even in economic hard times the poor in our country are more well off than most of the rest of the people on the globe. A few years ago I heard a priest say that there are 7 million street boys in Brazil alone. These abandoned street children are ill-clothed, ill-fed, ill-housed, and ill-educated. Most are already involved in criminal activity and will surely not even live to manhood. Efforts to help often seem fruitless and counter-productive. It breaks your heart.

 

What can we do? Frankly, I think it would take a great saint like Mother Teresa to deal with such a problem. But she started out by reaching out to heal one single child. From that point, through prayer and self sacrifice she built a world wide order of sisters devoted to caring for the poor. Most of us cannot match the zeal and skill of this great woman but maybe we could profit by looking closely at today’s gospel.

 

First, Jesus makes the care of the needy a personal thing. He does not talk about curing world hunger and bringing about world peace. He focuses on two men: one is incredibly rich and the other incredibly poor. The poor man does not live far away on another continent. He lives (maybe it’s more accurate to say dies) right outside the rich man’s palace. Jesus is saying that the Pharisees could have used the excuse that the beggar was unclean according to the Law, and not touchable by any self-respecting person. But Jesus is saying that this excuse in not available to us. The spirit of the law requires us to help.

 

Thank goodness most of us do. St. Paul certainly understood the message of today’s gospel. He tells the young priest, Timothy, that he has the obligation to see Christ in all those entrusted to his care, and urges him to follow the example of Jesus and “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.” In another letter, he told Timothy, 

 

if we deny Him

He will deny us. 

 

###

Reading 1. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Reading II. 1 Timothy 6: 11-16

Gospel. Luke 16: 19-31( Dives and Lazurus). 

Prophets

                       26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                      B cycle

 

Capernaum millstone

What are we to make of this puzzling first reading from the Book of Numbers? Who has ever heard of Eldad and Medad, the two unlikely prophets? They are certainly not ranked among the great Hebrew prophets like Isaiah and Elijah. 

 

In today’s account we are told that Eldad and Medad were left behind in the Hebrew camp when the Lord’s spirit came upon 70 elders in the same way that it had come upon Moses. In other words, these seventy were to share in the work of Moses. It was like our sacrament of Confirmation where the Bishop, who has already received the Spirit, shares it with the newly confirmed.

 

However, a problem arose because apparently Eldad and Medad received the Spirit even though they were not present at the ceremony. Our reading tells us that Joshua, the closest disciple of Moses, took offense and urged Moses to forbid Eldad and Medad from prophesying.  Moses replied,

 

Are you jealous for my sake?

Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!

Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all! 

 

Moses understood that the Lord could bestow His Spirit on whomever he chose, whenever He chose, and wherever He chose. 

 

It is no coincidence that the Church pairs this reading about Moses, Eldad, and Medad, with today’s gospel account. Moses was the savior of the Israelites. He had led them out of the slavery of Egypt. Jesus, of course, is the savior of us all. Moreover, we are told in today’s gospel that the Spirit of the Lord was just as bountiful and unpredictable as it was in the time of Moses. 

 

You may remember that in last week’s gospel the Apostles had been arguing among themselves about which of them was the greatest. Now another bone of contention comes up. John, one of the twelve chosen Apostles, tells Jesus that they saw someone who was not a disciple driving out demons in the name of Jesus. In other words, John believed that only he and the other Apostles and disciples of Jesus, who had been called to do his work, were the ones who could do the work.

 

In the same way that Moses told Joshua not to impede the good works of Eldad and Medad, Jesus tells John and the others not to impede anyone doing good works in His name. He teaches John and the others that the spirit of God moves in many and mysterious ways.

 

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name

Who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink

Because you belong to Christ,

Amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

 

The spirit of God is infinitely more powerful than any human being can understand. We certainly cannot control it. Nor can we think that it only operates through standard bureaucratic channels. Notice that in this passage Jesus says that anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink will receive a reward. That’s all it takes. We don’t give drink to the thirsty or food to the hungry because we are Christians. When we give drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry, we become Christian. 

 

The rest of today’s gospel deals with the burdens we put upon ourselves that Jesus compares to putting a large millstone around our neck. It contains the famous words about cutting off a hand or foot, or plucking out one’s eye if they are leading you astray. 

 

While not to be taken literally, the words used by Jesus are strong. In today’s second reading from the letter of the apostle James, we see how they were understood by his disciples. The hand, the foot, and the eye are just symbols of things like wealth, power, and prestige that we think will bring happiness. But:

 

You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;

You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

 

Prophets did not so much tell the future as point out the evils in their own time. James was as good a prophet as any, but he was just an ordinary fisherman until he was called by Jesus, and encountered the Spirit of the Lord. I don’t know what the names Eldad and Medad mean but I like to think they could be translated as just “you” and “me.” As Moses said, it would be good if we were all prophets. 

 

 

###

Reading 1.  Numbers 11: 25-29

Reading II. James 5: 1-6

Gospel. Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48 (whoever is not against us, is for us)

A Man Had Two Sons

                                     Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                   

 

 

It’s not fair! It seems like even as far back as the time of the prophet Ezekiel, people were complaining that life is not fair. More specifically, they were complaining that the Lord’s way is not fair. Is it fair that people who have lived good, upstanding lives should not attain happiness because of one mistake? Actually Ezekiel is saying that it takes more than one mistake. He speaks of someone who deliberately turns away from virtue to seek what he calls iniquity. 

 

In the same way, is it fair for someone who has led a life of iniquity to be saved by a conversion at the last minute? We saw in last week’s gospel that those who had labored only an hour got the same wage as those who had worked a whole day. Is that fair? Nevertheless, throughout the gospels we are told that the Lord has a special concern for those who have strayed or gone away. Moreover, we are told that we should rejoice when they are found.

 

Today’s gospel gives us a similar lesson. It is the parable of the man with two sons. One is asked by his father to go work in the vineyard but refuses. But later he decides to do the work. The other son is also asked to go to the vineyard and says yes, but then never shows up. When Jesus asked, “Which of the two did his father’s will,” his hearers readily agreed that it was the first son despite his initial refusal.

 

It’s easy to understand the moral of this parable but hard to apply it to our own lives. Many of us have been coming to Church our whole lives but might also be dealing with children who refuse to go. They’ve said no but we also know that many of our fallen away relatives and friends are actually working in the vineyard. They are supporting their families, educating and directing their children, and even, in many cases, taking care of their elderly parents. 

 

I have to admit that some of the most Christian people I know do not believe in God or practice any religion. Like it or not, they are cooperating with the grace of God. Sadly, I have to admit that some of the devout Catholics I know would not even give you the time of day. Someone once said, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

 

In today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians he warns the community at Philippi to beware of complacency and selfishness.

 

Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory,

Rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

Each looking our not for his own interests,

But also for those of others.

 

We all know that our favorite subject is ourselves. We never tire of talking about ourselves, our interests and our concerns. We use social media to tell our story to all who will listen, and even love to take pictures of ourselves and put them on the web. Today, even Senior citizens know about “Selfies”. 

 

How many times do we meet someone and all they do is talk about themselves? Worse, how many times do we meet someone, and all we do is talk about ourselves? Selfishness can certainly be observed in even young children. One only has to attend a modern birthday party where the birthday boy or girl sits on a veritable throne. Of course, teenagers are notorious for selfishness. Often their words and actions seem to indicate that the whole world revolves around them.

 

For many young adults the responsibilities of work and family will help to overcome selfishness, but it is really sad to see men and women shirking their own family and work responsibilities out of an excessive concern for their own self. Unfortunately, Senior citizens are not immune from selfishness. What can be worse than being confronted by Senior citizens anxious to tell you all about themselves.

 

I guess you could say that selfishness is part of our human nature. Perhaps, it is even a kind of protective spiritual armor. In any case, it requires a supernatural gift or grace to overcome our natural tendencies. St. Paul tells the Philippians to follow the example of Jesus.

Have in you the same attitude

That is also in Christ Jesus…

He emptied himself,

Taking the form of a slave,…

He humbled himself,

Becoming obedient to the point of death…

 

When we think of the two sons in today’s gospel, we should think of the first son, who despite his own selfish refusal, gave up his own self to do the father’s work in the vineyard.  Time and time again in the gospels we are told that it is only in giving up our selves that we will find our true self.

 

###

Reading 1. Ezekiel 18: 25-28

Reading II. Philippians 2: 1-11

Gospel. Matthew 21: 28-32 (A man had two sons)

Parable: Rich Man, Poor Man

                                    26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                  

Just like last week, today's first reading is from the Book of the prophet Amos. We must remember that for the most part prophecy is not about foretelling the future but about calling attention to the wrongs in the present. Amos is no exception. His criticism of the idleness and greed of the well-to-do in his own time seems to ring true in our time as well. 

He says, "Woe to the complacent in Zion!" What accusations does he bring? Their homes are furnished luxuriously. They eat the choicest foods and drink the finest wines. They sing and dance with abandon. Today, we have cable channels devoted to each of those subjects. We have food channels, fashion channels, music channels, and home improvement channels.

One of the key messages of the Hebrew scriptures is the obligation to care for the lowly and the poor. All were expected to act as good stewards on behalf of those in need. In today's first reading the Prophet Amos claims that his people have failed to come to the aid of the needy, and that they will suffer the consequences.

This same theme is the subject of today's gospel where Jesus tells the famous parable of the rich man and the poor beggar, Lazarus. This parable is the third famous story in the sixteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel. Two weeks ago we heard the story of the Prodigal Son, and last week it was the story of the unjust steward who cheated his master. Jesus tells the  stories to a group of Pharisees who were known for their strict, even rigid observance of every aspect of the Law. Jesus complains that while they make an outward show of goodness, they fail to abide by the true spirit of the Law. 

Isn’t it obvious that the stories are directed to us as well. We live in the richest country in the history of the world. Even in economic hard times the poor in our country are more well off than most of the rest of the people on the globe. A few years ago I heard a priest say that there are 7 million street boys in Brazil alone. These abandoned street children are ill-clothed, ill-fed, ill-housed, and ill-educated. Most are already involved in criminal activity and will surely not even live to manhood. Efforts to help often seem fruitless and counter-productive. It breaks your heart.

What can we do? Frankly, I think it would take a great saint like Mother Teresa to deal with such a problem. But she started out by reaching out to heal one single child. From that point through prayer and self sacrifice she built a world wide order of sisters devoted to caring for the poor. Most of us cannot match the zeal and skill of this great woman but maybe we could profit by looking closely at today’s gospel.

First, Jesus makes the care of the needy a personal thing. He does not talk about curing world hunger and bringing about world peace. He focuses on two men: one is incredibly rich and the other incredibly poor. The poor man does not live far away on another continent. He lives (maybe it’s more accurate to say dies) right outside the rich man’s palace. Jesus is saying that the Pharisees could have used the excuse that the beggar was unclean according to the Law, and not touchable by any self-respecting person. But Jesus is saying that this excuse in not available to us. The spirit of the law requires us to help.

Thank goodness most of us do. St. Paul certainly understood the message of today’s gospel. He tells the young priest, Timothy, that he has the obligation to see Christ in all those entrusted to his care, and urges him to  follow the example of Jesus and “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.” In another letter, he warned Timothy and us, 

if we deny Him

He will deny us. 

###

Reading 1. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7

Reading II. 1 Timothy 6: 11-16

Gospel. Luke 16: 19-31( Dives and Lazurus).

Ordinary Prophets

                           26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                          

Capernaum millstone

         

What are we to make of this puzzling first reading from the Book of Numbers? Who has ever heard of Eldad and Medad, the two unlikely prophets? They are certainly not ranked among the great Hebrew prophets like Isaiah and Elijah. 

In today’s account we are told that Eldad and Medad were left behind in the Hebrew camp when the Lord’s spirit came upon 70 elders in the same way that it had come upon Moses. In other words, these seventy were to share in the work of Moses. It was like our sacrament of Confirmation where the Bishop, who has already received the Spirit, shares it with the newly confirmed.

However, a problem arose because apparently Eldad and Medad received the Spirit even though they were not present at the ceremony. Our reading tells us that Joshua, the closest disciple of Moses, took offense and urged Moses to forbid Eldad and Medad from prophesying.  Moses replied,

Are you jealous for my sake?

Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!

Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all! 

Moses understood that the Lord could bestow His Spirit on whomever he chose, whenever He chose, and wherever He chose. 

It is no coincidence that the Church pairs this reading about Moses, Eldad, and Medad, with today’s gospel account. Moses was the savior of the Israelites. He had led them out of the slavery of Egypt. Jesus, of course, is the savior of us all. Moreover, we are told in today’s gospel that the Spirit of the Lord was just as bountiful and unpredictable as it was in the time of Moses. 

You may remember that in last week’s gospel the Apostles had been arguing among themselves about which of them was the greatest. Now another bone of contention comes up. John, one of the twelve chosen Apostles, tells Jesus that they saw someone who was not a disciple driving out demons in the name of Jesus. In other words, John believed that only he and the other Apostles and disciples of Jesus, who had been called to do his work, were the ones who could do the work.

In the same way that Moses told Joshua not to impede the good works of Eldad and Medad, Jesus tells John and the others not to impede anyone doing good works in His name. He teaches John and the others that the spirit of God moves in many and mysterious ways.

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name

Who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink

Because you belong to Christ,

Amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

The spirit of God is infinitely more powerful than any human being can understand. We certainly cannot control it. Nor can we think that it only operates through standard bureaucratic channels. Notice that in this passage Jesus says that anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink will receive a reward. That’s all it takes. We don’t give drink to the thirsty or food to the hungry because we are Christians. When we give drink to the thirsty and food to the hungry, we become Christian. 

The rest of today’s gospel deals with the burdens we put upon ourselves that Jesus compares to putting a large millstone around our neck. It contains the famous words about cutting off a hand or foot, or plucking out one’s eye if they are leading you astray. 

While not to be taken literally, the words used by Jesus are strong. In today’s second reading from the letter of the apostle James, we see how they were understood by his disciples. The hand, the foot, and the eye are just symbols of things like wealth, power, and prestige that we think will bring happiness. But:

You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;

You have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

Prophets did not so much tell the future as point out the evils in their own time. James was as good a prophet as any, but he was just an ordinary fisherman until he was called by Jesus, and encountered the Spirit of the Lord. I don’t know what the names Eldad and Medad mean but I like to think they could be translated as just “you” and “me.” As Moses said, it would be good if we were all prophets.  

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Reading 1.  Numbers 11: 25-29

Reading II. James 5: 1-6

Gospel. Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48 (whoever is not against us, is for us)

Parable of the Two Sons

                                    Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                   

It’s not fair! It seems like even as far back as the time of the prophet Ezekiel, people were complaining that life is not fair. More specifically, they were complaining that the Lord’s way is not fair. Is it fair that people who have lived good, upstanding lives should not attain happiness because of one mistak

Actually Ezekiel is saying that it takes more than one mistake. He speaks of someone who deliberately turns away from virtue to seek what he calls iniquity.

In the same way, is it fair for someone who has led a life of iniquity to be saved by a conversion at the last minute? We saw in last week’s gospel that those who had labored only an hour got the same wage as those who had worked a whole day. Is that fair? Nevertheless, throughout the gospels we are told that the Lord has a special concern for those who have strayed or gone away. Moreover, we are told that we should rejoice when they are found.

Today’s gospel gives us a similar lesson. It is the parable of the man with two sons. One is asked by his father to go work in the vineyard but refuses. But later he decides to do the work. The other son is also asked to go to the vineyard and says yes, but then never shows up. When Jesus asked, “Which of the two did his father’s will,” his hearers readily agreed that it was the first son despite his initial refusal.

It’s easy to understand the moral of this parable but hard to apply it to our own lives. Many of us have been coming to Church our whole lives but might also be dealing with children who refuse to go. They’ve said no but we also know that many of our fallen away relatives and friends are actually working in the vineyard. They are supporting their families, educating and directing their children, and even, in many cases, taking care of their elderly parents.

I have to admit that some of the most Christian people I know do not believe in God or practice any religion. Like it or not, they are cooperating with the grace of God. Sadly, I have to admit that some of the devout Catholics I know would not even give you the time of day. Someone once said, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

In today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians he warns the community at Philippi to beware of complacency and selfishness.

Do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory,

Rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

Each looking our not for his own interests,

But also for those of others.

We all know that our favorite subject is ourselves. We never tire of talking about ourselves, our interests and our concerns. We use social media to tell our story to all who will listen, and even love to take pictures of ourselves and put them on the web. Today, even Senior citizens know about “Selfies”.

How many times do we meet someone and all they do is talk about themselves? Worse, how many times do we meet someone, and all we do is talk about ourselves? Selfishness can certainly be observed in even young children. One only has to attend a modern birthday party where the birthday boy or girl sits on a veritable throne. Of course, teenagers are notorious for selfishness. Often their words and actions seem to indicate that the whole world revolves around them.

For many young adults the responsibilities of work and family will help to overcome selfishness, but it is really sad to see men and women shirking their own family and work responsibilities out of an excessive concern for their own self. Unfortunately, Senior citizens are not immune from selfishness. What can be worse than being confronted by a Senior citizen anxious to tell you all about themselves.

I guess you could say that selfishness is part of our human nature. Perhaps, it is even a kind of protective spiritual armor. In any case, it requires a supernatural gift or grace to overcome our natural tendencies. St. Paul tells the Philippians to follow the example of Jesus.

Have in you the same attitude

That is also in Christ Jesus…

He emptied himself,

Taking the form of a slave,…

He humbled himself,

Becoming obedient to the point of death…

When we think of the two sons in today’s gospel, we should think of the first son, who despite his own selfish refusal, gave up his own self to do the father’s work in the vineyard.  Time and time again in the gospels we are told that it is only in giving up our selves that we will find our true self.

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Reading 1. Ezekiel 18: 25-28

Reading II. Philippians 2: 1-11

Gospel. Matthew 21: 28-32 (A man had two sons)