Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx
October 1st, 2023
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE TWEENTY-SIX SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
These are shocking and surprising words spoken by Jesus to the priests and elders of the people. And why Jesus seems to be so direct and so harsh toward these religious leaders? After the purification of the temple the religious leaders asked Jesus who gave him the authority to expel the dealers in the temple. The tension between Jesus and the religious authorities is very high. It is in this context of conflict and tensions that Jesus, through the parable of two sons, denounces the hypocrisy of the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities. The Scriptures of this Sunday remind us some very important aspects of our Christian life in our journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven. It is all about repentance, humility and obedience to the will of God.
In the First reading this Sunday, the message of the prophet Ezekiel is focused on moral responsibility and repentance.
“ And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life” Ezekiel 18,27.
Repentance is a paved road which leads us to our redemption and salvation. Through repentance, we change our mind and turn towards the merciful and forgiving God. When we have sinned, we need to turn back to God. Our conversion requires a humble and contrite heart. There is no conversion without humility and contrition. Nowadays is difficult some times to distinguish who exactly is a Christian or not. Even we, religious and priests, need repentance. The call to repentance remains relevant for us all religious or lay people.
In the second reading, Saint Paul emphasizes the obedience and humility of our Lord and Savior.
“…He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2: 8. We have to look for God in the simplicity of our hearts and in a spirit of total humility. We must not depend on ourselves but in God who helps the humble, and reduces the pride to nothingness. It is only through humility and obedience to God that we will be able to draw close to the Kingdom of heaven. We have so much to learn from the humility and obedience of our Lord and savior Jesus-Christ.
The Gospel reading is more focused on change and obedience to the will of God. The parable of the two sons helps us to understand that our actions are more valuable than our empty promises. The first son said no the demand of his father but later on he changed his mind. The second one said yes but he did not do the will of his father.
“From disobedience in words to obedience through action” and “from obedience in words through disobedience in action”
Through this parable, Jesus reminds us that our actions are more important than our words. We have to keep in mind that our actions speak louder than our words. And only those who do the father’s will, enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The prostitutes and tax collectors are making their way to the Kingdom of Heaven through their humility and sincerity of Heart. Jesus reminds us time and again that we must avoid the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time who liked to appear, and to be called learned.
The most important in our Christian life is not what we know but what we do with what we know. It is all about concrete actions. We must not look for God in the cloud of our imagination and knowledge that has been given to us through human science. Let us be people of actions by doing God’s Will.
May the Virgin Mary, seat of wisdom, teach us to do the will of God and to humble ourselves. Happy month of October dedicated to the Holy Rosary and to the Mission.
Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx
October 1st, 2023
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS OF THE TWEENTY-SIX SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
These are shocking and surprising words spoken by Jesus to the priests and elders of the people. And why Jesus seems to be so direct and so harsh toward these religious leaders? After the purification of the temple the religious leaders asked Jesus who gave him the authority to expel the dealers in the temple. The tension between Jesus and the religious authorities is very high. It is in this context of conflict and tensions that Jesus, through the parable of two sons, denounces the hypocrisy of the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities. The Scriptures of this Sunday remind us some very important aspects of our Christian life in our journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven. It is all about repentance, humility and obedience to the will of God.
In the First reading this Sunday, the message of the prophet Ezekiel is focused on moral responsibility and repentance.
“ And if the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning from the sins he committed, he will save his life” Ezekiel 18,27.
Repentance is a paved road which leads us to our redemption and salvation. Through repentance, we change our mind and turn towards the merciful and forgiving God. When we have sinned, we need to turn back to God. Our conversion requires a humble and contrite heart. There is no conversion without humility and contrition. Nowadays is difficult some times to distinguish who exactly is a Christian or not. Even we, religious and priests, need repentance. The call to repentance remains relevant for us all religious or lay people.
In the second reading, Saint Paul emphasizes the obedience and humility of our Lord and Savior.
“…He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Philippians 2: 8. We have to look for God in the simplicity of our hearts and in a spirit of total humility. We must not depend on ourselves but in God who helps the humble, and reduces the pride to nothingness. It is only through humility and obedience to God that we will be able to draw close to the Kingdom of heaven. We have so much to learn from the humility and obedience of our Lord and savior Jesus-Christ.
The Gospel reading is more focused on change and obedience to the will of God. The parable of the two sons helps us to understand that our actions are more valuable than our empty promises. The first son said no the demand of his father but later on he changed his mind. The second one said yes but he did not do the will of his father.
“From disobedience in words to obedience through action” and “from obedience in words through disobedience in action”
Through this parable, Jesus reminds us that our actions are more important than our words. We have to keep in mind that our actions speak louder than our words. And only those who do the father’s will, enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The prostitutes and tax collectors are making their way to the Kingdom of Heaven through their humility and sincerity of Heart. Jesus reminds us time and again that we must avoid the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time who liked to appear, and to be called learned.
The most important in our Christian life is not what we know but what we do with what we know. It is all about concrete actions. We must not look for God in the cloud of our imagination and knowledge that has been given to us through human science. Let us be people of actions by doing God’s Will.
May the Virgin Mary, seat of wisdom, teach us to do the will of God and to humble ourselves. Happy month of October dedicated to the Holy Rosary and to the Mission.
Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx