Pentecost 18 (year A proper 21)- Matthew 21:23-27, 28-32

This week my focus is on a section of the Gospel, Matthew 21:28-32. This passage is unique to Matthew and often overlooked. In a way, this parable is generally similar to the longer parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke. It is the parable of the Two Sons. In the parable, one son promises to do his father's bidding, and the other refuses. Ironically, the son who promises to obey does not follow through, and the son who refuses later repents and obeys. Jesus asks which of the two sons did his father's will. Then our Lord warns His hearers about their own responses to the biblical message.

This parable conveys two points. First, there is a general point about sincerity. We should fulfill our duties and do what we say. Secondly, there is a more specific point about responses to the proclamation of the kingdom of heaven. God calls people to serve Him, and He wants them to say yes. However, human beings must be careful about their promises. Those who promise a lot and do nothing are less faithful than those who promise nothing, repent, and obey. Through divine grace, may we all be obedient to our heavenly Father, and when we fail, may we repent!

Pentecost 17 (year A proper 20)- Matthew 20:1-16

 This Sunday's Gospel selection from Matthew 20:1-16 is Christ's Parable of the Laborers. This story questions ordinary human standards about work, merit, and reward. We human beings like to focus on what we do, our effort, our struggles, and what we think we earn. These concerns have a place in ordinary earthly matters, but they should not be exaggerated.

However, in spiritual matters, the situation is different. The parable in Matthew 20 uses labor and compensation as a comparison for the kingdom of heaven, and it reflects the divine perspective. God is the rightful owner of all, and any work done for Him is a privilege, not a right. In His gracious and generous nature, He can reward all as He chooses. All faithful human responses are important in His sight, whether a lifelong effort or a sincere response at the close of the day. If God calls us to His service, we are not in any position to question His arrangements with others. Rather, we should accept His grace in faith with humble gratitude.

Pentecost 16 (year A proper )- Matthew 18:21-35

 The Gospel for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is from Matthew 18:21-35. It contains two sections on forgiveness. In the first brief section (18:21-22), Peter asks how many times he is expected to forgive a fellow believer. According to one Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was sufficient. So when Peter suggests that forgiving seven times might be enough, he is being generous. Jesus, however, tells Peter that it should be "seventy times seven." Of course, keeping a mental count of 490 incidents would be impractical and unlikely. So, by this figure of speech, our Lord tells Peter and us not to keep count of how often we forgive. Our graciousness and mercy should be as abundant as God's.

The second section of today's Gospel (Matthew 18:23-35) has been called the Parable of the Unjust or Unmerciful Servant. This parable illustrates Jesus' preceding message to Peter, and it warns us against being unmerciful. In the parable, a servant owes his king an enormous debt, a billionaire's debt. He and his family are about to be sold into slavery. The man begs for an extended payment plan, and the king graciously writes off the whole debt. 

As a recipient of such mercy, the servant should be humble, grateful, and kind; instead, he goes out and ruthlessly tries to get every penny from a fellow servant who owes him a minuscule debt. When the king hears of this lack of mercy, he revokes his previous decision and punishes the unjust servant to the full extent of the law. Then our Lord adds the key conclusion in Matthew 18:35 (KJV), "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every man his brother their trespasses."

In a similar way, all the debts that we human beings owe each other are minuscule compared to what we owe our heavenly King. We can never repay God for what He has given us and forgiven us. He has given us life, and through Christ, He has forgiven our sins. Our trespasses are enormous offences against divine goodness and holiness. We can not make amends, and we are completely dependent upon divine mercy. Although we should not encourage manipulative people, we are also called to show mercy by forgiving others. As we pray repeatedly, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Pentecost 15 (year A proper 18)- Matthew 18:1–20

 The Gospel for this Sunday, Matthew 18:1–20, contains a collection of Jesus' sayings on several subjects. In particular, let us focus on the words about little children. Who are these children, and what are their characteristics? They are "little children", and they are in the crowd listening to Jesus. They do not have great knowledge, but they are humble and do have a simple faith or trust in the Lord. They may have bad moods or do the wrong things, but they are still humble, open, and loving. They know that they are dependent on God and other people. They have appropriate attitudes. Christ holds such little ones up as examples of those who inherit the kingdom. May we all seek such an humble and trusting attitude before God!