27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 


27TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME


If you like vineyard imagery, then you’re in luck: we get a double-dose this weekend (see Isaiah 5:1-7 & Matt. 21:33-46). Each case involves the establishment of a vineyard, for the purpose of gathering up a yield of grapes at harvest time. But what ends up being produced? It can only be described as a double-portion of disappointment. In fact, if you examine the language closely, it goes beyond mere disappointment; we’re talking about BITTER disappointment. 


What does this signify? If you’re a vineyard worker, you have good reason to feel anxious. How about if you’re not a vineyard worker? What if you’re simply in the process of reading about a crew of shiftless vineyard workers? Do you have any reason to feel anxious? After all, it’s not as if you are in the habit of disappointing the Lord. Then again, maybe it occurs to you that your record actually does include instances of failure. Once it becomes clear that you’ve fallen short, that’s when anxiety begins to set in. The awareness of sin breeds an influx of anxiety. 


One option would be to let the anxiety take over: simply allow yourself to be consumed with the burden of anxiety. You can follow that course—or you can check in with St. Paul. He counsels against the prospect of anxiety. Ask yourself: what does it accomplish? Instead, Paul presents another option, a more useful option: go to the Lord in prayer (see Phil. 4:6-7). Resist the precedent of Genesis chapter three: Adam and Eve covering themselves, practicing avoidance. Rather, proceed into the Lord’s presence. Appeal to his sense of mercy. 


By way of illustration, let’s consider a story written by Lorraine Hansberry, titled “Raisin In The Sun.”  It was originally released as a broadway play; then later it was adapted for both film and television. The story has to do with an under-privileged family seeking to escape the ghetto. An opportunity comes to them by way of tragedy. The father dies, leaving behind a $10,000 insurance policy. Lena, the mother, intends to use the money as a down-payment on a house in the suburbs. 


However, the son Walter talks her into handing the money over to him. He and two of his associates are looking to purchase a liquor store. Walter is confident that the venture will generate a sustained level of financial support, enabling them to do more than just make a down-payment on a house. Lena reluctantly agrees. Sadly, the two associates disappear with the money. Walter now faces the difficult task of explaining all of this to his family. The reaction is mixed. The sister, Beneatha, is completely outraged. Lena, meanwhile, maintains that the brother stands more in need of love than condemnation. The sister questions whether there is anything left to love? At this, the mother insists that there will always be something left to love. 


Certainly we will want to appreciate the mother’s stirring example. And yet, we should be careful not to overlook the example of the son. He has disappointed the family, profoundly. But he brings himself to step toward them, not away from them. In the same way, you discover that you have disappointed the Lord, perhaps profoundly. The answer is not to be found in Genesis chapter three. Keeping your distance will only make the situation worse. Don’t borrow any pages from Adam and Eve. Borrow instead from St. Paul. Rest assured that where the Lord is concerned, there is always something left to love. 

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome

 These are text versions of the sermons I have prepared for the Sundays of the calendar year. I am a Catholic priest of the diocese of Gaylord (Michigan), ordained in 1997. 
Read more

Second Sunday of Easter [B]

Image
  SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER  You will find that some Bible passages have a way of explaining themselves. These verses come across as straight-forward. You don’t need any help forming your interpretation. But then you make your way into the First Letter of St. John. Chapter five outlines a series of witnesses; referred to as the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood (5:6-8). Jesus comes to us by way of the Spirit, by way of the Water, and by way of the Blood. Upon consulting the commentaries you discover that scholarly opinion remains divided, regarding this selection. A definitive interpretation has not yet been reached. Generally, however, speculation has leaned in the direction of the Jordan River, with Jesus stepping forward to be baptized.   If you pray the Rosary, this ranks as the first of the Luminous Mysteries. You know that this mystery centers around the symbol of water. You know also that the Holy Spirit becomes visible in the image of a dove (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10). Two of the wit
Read more

Passion Sunday [B]

Image
  PASSION SUNDAY Because we are in the “B” cycle, this year’s Passion reading will come from the Gospel of St. Mark. Last year, with cycle “A,” we heard St. Matthew’s account. Next year, observing cycle “C,” we will hear from St. Luke. If you are wondering about St. John, we spend time in his Gospel every year, especially during the seasons of Lent and Easter. As for Mark, his Gospel bears a resemblance to both Matthew and Luke. These are called the “Synoptic Gospels,” because they appear to be synchronized around a common body of source material. We find plenty in the way of similarities, but we also find peculiarities---elements that are unique to each of the Synoptics. For example, with regard to Mark’s version of the Passion, attention is called to a particular young man who panics as the authorities come to arrest Jesus. He, likewise, very nearly gets apprehended, but they manage only to grip the hem of his tunic. The unnamed disciple slips out of his garment and runs off into the
Read more