25th Sunday of the Year (A)

(Edited for September 20, 2026) Sunday reflections: (From) Years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

September 21, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a
Matthew 20:1-16

"You go to the vineyard too."

The passage in Matthew 20 is another parable taught by Jesus: the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. It shows how the Reign of God is like the owner of a vineyard, who hires laborers at different hours of a day. The owner went out to hire: early in the a.m., at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 3:00 p.m., and at 5:00 p.m. What is surprising about this vineyard-owner is that he continued to hire even up to the last hour of the day - at 5pm.

When work day ended, the owner of the vineyard commanded his steward to call everyone and pay each group of laborers - beginning with the last group who worked only one hour and then ending with the first group who worked early. Those who worked only 1 hour were paid a day's wage, but those who worked since the early a.m. also received a day's wage. The first group naturally complained. But the vineyard-owner explained to them, that they (the first group) had agreed to receive a day's wage. Could this vineyard-owner's business involve more than just the number of work hours? Was he emphasizing his business as more important than the laborers sense of justice?


In the parable of Jesus, that vineyard owner represented God and His ways of repaying those who respond to His call. The parable shows the nature of God's "business" as different from the human understanding of labor, hours worked, and wages. God's "business" in that parable revealed a justice that is not based on mere labor and hours worked. It is a "business" that emphasizes His judgment as the basis for His repaying the laborers. It challenges our modern economic systems to think also in terms of a God who is generous to laborers and whose judgment is based on His divine point of view. But how can we understand this "divine point of view"?

In our very secularized world of business, we can think of corporate values such as social responsibility and laws that defend the rights of all stakeholders in any enterprise. This is understood in the field of business law and ethics. But the parable in Matthew's gospel calls our attention not to what is unjust in the dealing of the vineyard-owner to the first group laborers, but to what the vineyard-owner values most: his generosity and how he exercises it with his money. Could Jesus be revealing to those who hear this parable a God whose omnipotence and omniscience in "His business" is not for us to question? Perhaps.

But this parable also suggests a God who gives importance to His judgment based on "ownership" and His generous character. It reveals a God who can surprise us with ways we do not understand because of our common but limited human knowledge and systems of dealing in the world.

The truth Jesus wants to reveal is also the truth many classic spiritual writers and theologians have always written about who our God is: Yes, He is as close to us as Jesus was to His apostles, but He still remains to be a mystery. His ways are beyond all worldly standards. It is only by the gift of faith and common reason that we learn who He is for us personally, and how He is generous to us at times when we need His generosity the most.

Scripture quote:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts." (Isaiah 55)

Solemnity of Christmas (A)

(Edited for 12/25/2025) Reflection (from) Christmas Mass for the Day (B), December 25, 2011

Author's note: The Liturgical readings for Christmas Mass for the Day is the same for all liturgical cycles: Year A, B, & C

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

Modern man has lost his rootedness in a past that was deeply religious in context. This is perhaps the reason why many have also lost the depth of listening that is a prerequisite for focusing on what truly matters in life. If one were to review the writings of great spiritual writers, one will discover a depth of understanding not often found in a modern world filled with distractions that limit our senses to surface realities.

In a sermon for Christmas, St. Bernard (a Cistercian abbot of the monastery of Clairvaux in the beginning of the 2nd millenium), describes the mystery of Christmas as follows:

"A little child has been given to us, but in Him dwells all the fullness of a divine nature...the smaller He became through His human nature the greater was His goodness; the more He lowered Himself for us, the dearer He is to us."

What can humble some human minds is the challenge to have faith in this little child, who has that fullness of divinity which contains the Wisdom of God - a Wisdom not only for the known universe that everyone knows, but also for what is unknown. In a little child, the hope of humanity is borne in the lowliness of a baby, born of a simple maiden from Nazareth.

Looking at the traditional Christmas crèche, and taking time to contemplate how God-became-flesh-in-Jesus, can fill any soul with a hope not like any hope found in the other liturgical seasons of the Catholic faith. As present external circumstances appear to be heading towards negativity and a downtrend often presented in a lot of news, the mystery of hope and joy which the Christ-Child presents every Christmas to all the faithful, is enough to dispel any form of discouragement or sorrow one may have encountered in the difficulties of life this year. And it gives all a source of hope for a future that all seek sincerely and anticipate. This hope for a future within the deepest desire of the human heart is now found in the Christmas spirit of the Eucharist itself. And it is magnified with the knowledge that the Spirit of God is present in all who receive this hope in the Eucharist in every corner of the world. The Eucharist brings that Christmas hope to every heart until it overflows and benefits others as well.

It has been two millenia since that mystery of the Word-became-flesh quietly entered human history in a small town in Bethlehem. This Spirit of the Word-became-flesh from then on continued to be poured out all over the nations through the zeal of the apostles and their followers. Even to this day, it continues to be poured out to all humanity through the Church, and all its baptized members of every culture and race. Though there are still others who may not as yet see the light of the truth of the mystery of the Incarnation, every faithful soul knows by heart, that the spirit of joy and hope which the poor Bethlehem scene brings, can still, and can continue to inspire a world in need of this Christmas spirit until the end of the world. It is the task therefore of every baptized Catholic not only to remain in this Christmas hope, but to bring it to others in the very circumstances of each one's respective work and state of life. Since the spirit of Christmas is strong and vibrant, there are no words necessary to extend the joy and the hope of the season to others.

A

• kind gesture,
• a smile (the most universal language),
• a helping hand,
• a small contribution,
• giving one's time to listen,
• to reply,
• to thank,
• to chat,
• to treat oneself and a neighbor with respect

is already an extension of the Word-made-flesh in deed.

4th Sunday of Advent (A)

Sunday reflections for liturgical years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 22, 2013 (edited for 12/21/2025)

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 24
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-24

"Joseph received Mary into his home as his wife."

Last Sunday of Advent was Gaudete Sunday. The spirit of joy and anticipation of Christ's advent filled all Eucharistic celebrations - signaling that Christmas day is near. A symbol that represents joyful anticipation is the third Advent candle, which is colored rose or pink. Rose or pink represents joy in the Advent season. And that joy is expressed in the gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent: 'the blind see, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men live again, and the poor receive the Good News. Now, this fourth Sunday of Advent, that spiritual joy experienced last Gaudete Sunday is magnified in the present readings of the Eucharistic liturgy. The Lord Jesus, the Word of God made flesh in the womb of a humble virgin, will loom before the lives and relationships of everyone. It is a time and an opportunity to thank God for all the blessings received not only this Advent Season, but throughout the whole year. Everyone is encouraged to love God more, be kinder to others (and ourselves), and to act justly in the eyes of God and our fellow man. For He who is to come, is coming for all humanity.

This 4th Sunday of Advent brings us nearer to the image of the Nativity, as we listen to the gospel story of Mary and Joseph. Joseph, a just man, wanted initially to divorce Mary quietly when he found her with child. However, when an angel revealed to him in a dream that Mary's Child would be the the Son of God, the Savior of his people, the Emmanuel prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, Joseph obeyed what the angel of God told him in the dream. He did God's will by not pursuing his intention to divorce Mary, but welcomed her and the Child in her womb into his home. So the word of the prophet Isaiah has been fulfilled in Isaiah 7:14, 'the birth of Immanuel' - meaning 'God-with-us' or 'God-is-with-us' is to be born of Mary and under the guardianship of St. Joseph. The God who was incarnated in the womb of Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit is the God who will not only be with Mary and Joseph, but also with all the faithful in their journey as a people in the Church.

Never in the entire history of human civilization has mankind been privileged to be visited by a God who was incarnated in human flesh. Although the Son of God, in His humility, was incarnated in Jewish ancestry and culture, He and His mission is really meant for all. Whatever the angels of God revealed to Mary and to Joseph, truly changed the direction of human civilization. The "yes" of both Mary and Joseph to God's will has began the process of mankind's salvation from sin. If you have an opportunity to read the book entitled, "Life of Christ", by Bishop Fulton Sheen, he writes that history is full of men who claim to have come from God. These are men like Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Lao-tze, and many others. However, their births were not pre-announced; only Christ's birth was pre-announced. Christ's birth was pre-announced by: the Jewish prophets, Tacitus of ancient Rome, Chinese chroniclers, the Greek Aeschylus, Cicero, Suetonius, and Virgil. And today's gospel speaks of this pre-announcement by the mention of the Magi from the East. Such a great mystery as the Incarnation is a miracle that evokes wonder and awe. The greatness of Mary's and Joseph's faith and obedience to God's will is an example for all to follow. Their intercession for the Church is a blessing for all to be thankful always for the grace to have faith in God and to obey His will as best as each can in whatever circumstance life brings to all.

Scripture quotes from the readings:
The Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child (Isaiah 7)
He whose heart is clean shall receive a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 24)
Jesus Christ our Lord was descended from David according to the flesh but was made Son of God in power, according to the spirit of holiness (Romans 1)
Joseph, son of David, it is by the Holy Spirit that Mary has conceived this child (Matthew 1)