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There are two things to keep in mind when we try to grapple with this parable (Mt. 20:1-16).  Firstly, Matthew is writing for his faith community that is a mixture of Jewish Christians and Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. The Jewish Christians know that their faith has come down to them through the centuries beginning with Abraham, Moses, and all the great prophets. It is a long-standing and rich relationship with God who selected them as the Chosen People. The Gentile Christians, by contrast, are seen as late-comers to the ...

In the first reading, the Book of Sirach poses a question to us, and I do not think it is just a rhetorical question. Does anyone harbour anger against another, and expect healing from the, Lord? The answer unfortunately, is: of course! I know lots of people, including myself, who want God’s healing mercy for themselves but who also want punishment for others. Our logic goes something like this: that person over there, by their sin, has crossed a line that I have not crossed. And ...

Back in 1983 while taking an introductory psychology course in college, the professor told us students, on the first day of class that our term paper, due at the end of the semester, could be on any topic we wanted. He did, however, offer a list of suggestions, and I chose the topic of death and dying. By pure chance, three weeks later, the world’s authority on the topic of death and dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, was coming to town to give a talk. What an opportunity! I ...

Here is a line from the sacramentary (big, red book on the altar from which the priest prays the Eucharistic prayer) that I have publicly prayed numerous times over the past 23 years without giving it the attention it deserves. It goes like this; notice the last part especially. “Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of Life and the Chalice (Cup) of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your ...

Peter, in last weekend’s gospel account, made his profession of faith, “You are the Christ, Son of the living God,” in a place surrounded by pagan images and Roman power. This was a difficult place, to say the least, to profess your faith in the one, true God. Jeremiah, in today’s first reading, also struggles and succeeds, like Peter, in speaking God’s truth as a prophet. He felt he was too young and inadequate for the job God was asking of him. God reminded him that He ...

A little bit of context usually helps us understand the Word of God better. Here goes. Hezekiah was a good king in Judah. Although appointed by the pagan emperor in Rome, the king in Judah was still a Jewish king, and he looked after the interests of his Jewish brothers and sisters making sure they could still practice their faith in the one, true God with little interference from Rome. Unfortunately, Hezekiah’s chief of staff, the highest ranking official in the king’s court, Shebna, was not so ...