St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Some people who witnessed Jesus cast out a demon from a mute man believed that He did it through the power of Satan, instead of recognizing it as God's power at work in Him. This was a serious misunderstanding. In response, Jesus declared that He healed people through the power of God.

 

Sometimes we fail to see God's work among us, especially when it happens through people we may not always agree with. God blesses us in many ways, yet we often overlook these gifts. Instead of focusing on what we lack or what's wrong in our lives, we should recognize and show gratitude for the blessings God has given us.

 

We should pray for the ability to see as Jesus sees. He recognized God's work in creation, the sower, the vineyard, the flowers of the field, and the birds of the air. Jesus also saw God's presence in people whom others had dismissed because of their imperfections and faults. He teaches us to look with eyes of generosity, hope, and mercy. When we do this, we are inspired to give thanks in all circumstances, just as St. Paul encouraged us to do.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus proclaims that he came not to abolish the Law, as given through the events described in the Old Testament, but to fulfill it by embodying the ultimate law of love. He calls us to go beyond mere legalistic obedience, challenging us to align our hearts with God’s will and to help others do the same.

 

Jesus serves as the "New Moses," not abolishing the Law but fulfilling it by perfecting the Law. He does so by establishing that the real purpose of the Law is love, not just external compliance.

 

The commandments are essential, but they must be obeyed by genuine promptings from the heart, demonstrating that our inner life matches our outward words, actions, and attitudes toward others.

Whenever there’s a conflict, Jesus chooses compassion over legalism as a response, demonstrating that the ultimate fulfillment of the law is love for God and neighbor.

 

We are called to examine whether we are really “walking the walk” or becoming legalistic like the Pharisees. We should strive to live out the “fullness of the law” by making love the motivation behind all our actions.

St. Peter was a prominent figure in St. Matthew's community. Only the Gospel of St. Matthew records Jesus calling Simon Peter the "rock" on which He will build His church. It is also in St. Matthew’s Gospel alone that St. Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

 

In their culture, the number seven symbolized completeness and fullness. Forgiving someone seven times would be considered the utmost act of forgiveness. Yet Jesus tells St. Peter and us, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." He wants us to realize that our willingness to forgive should have no limits.

 

Jesus recognizes that people often place limits on forgiveness. Nevertheless, He urges us to take God's infinite mercy as our model for forgiving.

 

In today's parable, Jesus highlights God's forgiving nature. He sets a high standard and calls us to imitate God's mercy by being ready to forgive those who wrong us. As we hear in St. Luke’s Gospel, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

 

In our Gospel passage, Jesus challenges the narrow perspective of His fellow Nazoreans, who believed that God belonged only to the Israelites. When Jesus reminded them of moments in Scripture when God showed favor to outsiders rather than the Jewish people, the people became resentful, leading them to drive Him away. This rejection in Nazareth prefigured the even greater rejection He would later endure in Jerusalem.

 

Jesus sought to broaden their limited understanding of God. He wished them to realize, as St. Peter would later affirm, that "God has no favorites." Jesus continually emphasized that God's generosity and inclusiveness surpass human boundaries and expectations, revealing that God is far greater than they imagined.

 

Jesus’ vision of God continues to challenge us today, yet it remains "Good News" for all who are open and willing to embrace it.

In Wyoming, there’s an inspiring natural phenomenon: a tree growing out of solid rock. Nearby, a sign reads: "The original line of the Union Pacific Railroad passed within a few feet of this point and supposedly was deflected slightly to avoid destruction of this tree. The firemen of each passing train never failed to drench the tree with a bucket of water.”

How many people, like that struggling tree, would have withered and died if not for the care freely bestowed on them by others?

There is an old adage: "Bloom where you are planted.” Yet, like most such sayings, it is easier said than done. Our backgrounds differ greatly, and while some environments nurture a full and prosperous life, others can stifle it.

There are people in this world who live in some difficult situations, who cannot begin to bloom where they are planted or even survive without the generous help of other caring people.

Even the strong, the rich, and the healthy need help from time to time, especially in spiritual matters. Even Jesus—the most self-sufficient person to ever walk this earth—asks for a drink of water from an unknown Samaritan woman in today's Gospel.

We all know the story quite well:  She was out in the noonday heat because she couldn't very well show her face at the well in the morning, when the so-called 'respectable' women were there to gather water. The Jews of the time absolutely hated the Samaritans and considered them to be half-pagan heretics and religious infidels. Jews who were traveling would rather go around Samaria, even though it took much longer, than to set foot in that land.

Here, Jesus speaks with her—a woman who likely considered herself unworthy. After their initial conversation, Jesus' love reaches her, and she opens her heart to Him. Thirsty for the gift of 'living water,' she welcomes Jesus into the deepest part of her being.

We, too, may sometimes struggle to recognize our dignity as children of God. The Samaritan woman's experience is our own. In baptism, we are washed with Jesus' living water. At every Easter vigil, we are cleansed, forgiven, and transformed once again.

Yet, we may continue to doubt that such a radical transformation within us is possible.

Lent should be a life-altering season. All Jesus asks is a cupful of faith. Trust in Him, and He will reveal what He desires of us this Lent and in the days to come.

We should never give up or despair of our ability to change. We must allow Jesus to help us bloom wherever we are, to transform our hearts with love and hope, and to open our minds to His will. Let us allow Jesus to transform us by His love.

All of us go to the well of God’s grace: sometimes to drink deeply, sometimes to offer a cup of faith to others. Sharing what we have received from God—as the Church, the Body of Christ on Earth, and in our celebration of the Eucharist, where God gives Himself to us—is at the very heart of who we are as Church.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are central to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Being a true disciple of Jesus means dedicating ourselves to achieving unity of spirit, even in the face of differences and disagreements.

The work of reconciliation is not confined to a specific time or place, nor is it dependent on particular circumstances. It is offered to everyone and is not limited to any particular group.

 

Forgiveness requires us to confront our responsibility for hurting others, just as the Prodigal Son did. This often means setting aside our agendas, desires, and need for control. Sometimes, it requires putting aside our own pain to focus on reconciliation and actively work for it. The journey isn’t easy, but it’s what the Gospel calls us to pursue. We’re urged to prioritize reconciliation and healing over seeking revenge and punishment, much like the father in today’s Gospel reading as he navigates between his two sons.

 

Let us all commit ourselves to reconciliation: forgiving without seeking revenge, asking for forgiveness to heal those we’ve hurt, and restoring hope and dignity to those who have suffered because of our words or actions.

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, warning that those who reject God’s messengers—and ultimately His Son—will lose their place in His Kingdom. Instead, the Kingdom will be given to those who are faithful stewards, responsible with the gifts entrusted to them, and who bear fruit. We are the new tenants Jesus addresses, entrusted with the vineyard—the deposit of faith and the Church—called to bring God’s love, compassion, justice, peace, and mercy to others through our actions.

 

Jesus begins the parable by describing a landowner who provides everything needed for a thriving vineyard: a fence, a wine press, and a tower. In the same way, God has given us the vineyard of our lives—the Church and the gift of faith—entrusting us with stewardship rather than ownership.

 

The tenants’ rejection of the landowner's servants and, ultimately, his son highlights a refusal to accept God’s authority. Jesus, the Son, is the "stone the builders rejected." Yet God transforms this rejection into triumph, making Jesus the cornerstone of a new spiritual foundation.

 

The Kingdom is entrusted to those who produce its fruits. This compels us to reflect: How are we using the gifts we have received? Are we bearing fruit for the Kingdom through love, service, and sharing our faith, or are we, like the tenants in the parable, keeping the "produce" for ourselves?

 

We are called to be faithful stewards, not simply recipients of God’s grace. We must allow God to work through us so that our lives yield the fruits of the Gospel.

Today’s parable is not intended to criticize wealth itself. Instead, it encourages those with more than enough to consider whether they should share more with those in need. It encourages us to ask: “Am I doing my part to help close the gap between those with plenty and those with very little?

 

While our possessions are not inherently evil, they should not distract us from the difficulties faced by those in the world who have little or nothing. In this parable, the rich man is criticized for using his wealth solely for his own benefit, which reflects his indifference toward others.

 

Let us pray that we will be more aware of those in need, and that, in recognizing that all that we have and all that we are comes from God, we will gladly help them, thus answering the call to be channels of God’s love and providence in our world.

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages His disciples to become leaders who embrace humble servanthood rather than power, stressing that true greatness in His Father’s kingdom comes from serving others, not being served. As He journeys to Jerusalem toward His Passion and Death, He defines His mission (and thus, ours) as one of sacrificial love.

 

Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus predicting His Passion and Death. Immediately, the mother of James and John asks that her sons have places of honor in heaven. Jesus asks if they can drink His "chalice" of suffering. In doing so, He reveals that suffering and sacrifice always precede the glory of His kingdom. To be first is to be a servant, and to be great is to be a slave. "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." He is the model for all Christian discipleship AND leadership.

 

As we move through this Lenten season, let us ask God for the graces we need to refrain from seeking personal aspirations and glory, and the guidance we need to follow the path of the Suffering Servant.

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus speaks against hypocrisy, calling us to embrace humility rather than honor. While recognizing the authority of religious leaders, He condemns those who fail to practice what they preach while laying heavy burdens on others’ shoulders. True greatness is found in serving others, especially those considered lowly: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

 

The practice of our faith is not just about outward appearance or religious symbols that capture others' attention. Our words and actions must be in line with each other, proclaiming the Gospel not only with our words but with our actions and our deepest selves. We teach by example. The true teacher and proclaimer of the faith is one who serves with humility, recognizing and proclaiming God as the source of all goodness, love, and mercy.