Sunday 8 October 2023

The Examen

How have I lived out last week’s Gospel message? … What was tough? … What was rewarding?

The Call

We have a goal: follow God’s call in Jesus Christ. We will strive to respond to that calling. We are called to prayer and to worship. We will strive to respond to that calling. We are called to hear God’s Word in the scriptures. We will strive to respond to that calling. We are called to serve the downhearted and the disillusioned. We will strive to respond to that calling. We will run toward the goal to win the prize, which is God’s call through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Gospel

Matthew 21: 33 – 34

“Here’s another story. Listen closely. There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the tenants and went off on a trip. When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits”.

The Introduction

This is a difficult reading to hear. It is a story of anger, violence and greed. The tenants wanted the wealth of the property, and thought the best way to get it was through violence. Violence can never be the means used to obtain something. We might think this doesn’t apply to us, since we don’t go around killing people, but we sometimes let anger guide our actions. Spreading rumours or ignoring others can harm people. This week, produce good fruit by doing kind acts.

The Reflection

Relationships. Friendships. Community. Family. These are the cornerstones of our interactions with others. The Gospel reading this week reminds us that Jesus is the foundation of all of these. There are many examples in our world today about what it would look like if Jesus were not the cornerstone of one’s life. Think of the actions of the tenants in the parable. What events are happening in the world today that mirror this self-centred, greedy, and prone to violence behaviour? The tenants were thinking of themselves rather than of the relationship they have with the landowner. We do not live like the tenants when it comes to interacting with others, but there are times when we ignore our relationships with others by prioritising our own wants over others’ needs. However disheartening this may be, the Gospel ends on a positive note, reminding us that when we act selfishly and have Christ as our cornerstone, we bear good fruit and build up the Kingdom of God.

The Action

Having Christ as the cornerstone of your family and relationships is an important part of living the Christian life. Think about the ways your family keeps Christ at its centre. What else can you be doing as a family? This week, come up with one new way your family can keep its focus on Christ. Maybe have  everyone come together for prayer one night, or read this week’s readings together as a family, or try to attend the same Mass and sit with one another. Even small things like this can help us to change our attitudes so that we bear good fruit in the rest of our activities.

Find a current news story that is uplifting and demonstrates the goodness of others. Look for stories that combat greed, selfishness and negativity. So much of our mental energy is consumed by negative stories and the 24/7 news cycle. All too often, the stories of good and selfless people do not make the headlines.

Choose one injustice in the world and do some research on it this week. Maybe it is about the rights of workers of large corporations. Maybe it has to do with racial injustices. Research the perils that refugees face. Find a topic that interests you. Then learn about the issues. After learning about one or two issues, write down ways you can make a difference in your daily life and plan to do them over the next few weeks.

Check out: “Make a Difference” (Danny Gokey)

The Connection

Heed the Warnings

 
Sam had plenty of warnings; he just didn’t pay attention. His mum was alcoholic. He knew that made him more likely to develop a drinking problem. As he started experimenting with alcohol, teachers, coaches and friends warned him that he was heading down the wrong path. At one point he even sat in my office with a friend and talked about giving up alcohol.

Unfortunately, he didn’t. By the second year at university his drinking had ruined his reputation and he had made a real mess of life. I pray that he’s living a sober life today. But I worry.

God worries about us. God tries to warn us when we’re heading down a path that can hurt us or others. Jesus tells a parable this week about all the warnings God has sent through the ages. Many of God’s warnings came through prophets who challenged Israel to end poverty and injustice. Often, religious leaders ignored the prophets’ warnings and even killed the prophets.

God warns people today in a variety of ways – through concerned friends, through parents who offer advice, through adult Christians who counsel or challenge us, through God’s holy word, which calls us to turn our lives around. Are your ears open?

The Question of the Week

If a word or phrase from the Gospel grabs your heart, sit quietly for a moment, repeating it to yourself and asking God to show you how it applies to your life. Reflect and possibly journal on the following questions:

• How has God warned you through other people that you needed to make a change in your life?

The Song

 
VINE AND BRANCHES

© 2012, 2013, Trevor Thomson.
Published by Spirit & Song, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Used with permission.