The Vineyard Laborer

He Had to Rise From the Dead Easter Sunday Jn 20: 1- 9 Our gospel reading today takes us to that early Easter morning and narrates to us the extraordinary event of Jesus’ resurrection. It was the first day of the week. It was early in the morning and was still dark when Mary of Magdala came to see the tomb of Jesus. Jesus’ tomb was particularly special. John the evangelist writes about it saying: “ Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid… and the tomb was nearby; they laid Jesus there ( Jn 19: 41-42). John, however, did not mention   that the tomb was sealed with a stone at its entrance. He assumed that the readers of his time were familiar with how tombs were in those days.   But it would be this particular stone which sealed the entrance to Jesus’ tomb that would be the first telltale sign that something was different that early morning. So when Mary of Mag...

Truly, This Man was God's Son Passion Sunday March 25, 2018 Mk 15: 22- 41 The gospel reading today is taken from the crucifixion account of Mark. Mark’s crucifixion story is a stark account of what took place. In as few as 20 verses, he recounts how Jesus was crucified and how he died. Nonetheless, despite his simple and plain narrative, he is able to achieve his purpose and goal in narrating this short but important episode. First, Mark establishes the setting of the crucifixion. Jesus was brought to a place called Golgotha. As Jesus arrives there carrying his cross, he is offered some wine mixed with myrrh to drink. The wine that was offered to him was not given to quench his thirst but to serve as an anesthetic that would numb and reduce his pain as he goes through the crucifixion. Mark narrates that Jesus did not take it, indicating that Jesus did not want to go through the entire crucifixion process experiencing less or no pain at all. Then Mark ...

We Wish to See Jesus Fifth Sunday of Lent Jn 12: 20 -33 Today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Our reading takes us to a time when some Greeks were asking to see Jesus. The Passover feast was near. Expectedly, many Jews went in throngs to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. It is surprising however, to see non- Jews, like Greeks who were there to worship. But it is even more surprising that they were looking for Jesus. They came to Philip and said to him, " Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Then, after this brief introduction, Jesus says something enigmatic: “ The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” The title Son of Man was a title used by the prophet Daniel to describe his vision of the one who came with the clouds of heaven and to whom dominion, glory and kingship was given at the defeat of evil (Daniel 7:13 – 14). Jesus appropriates this title for himself here. Like the Son of Man in Daniel, he will deliver the world by driv...

God so Loved the World Fourth Sunday of Lent Jn 3: 14 – 21 Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Our Gospel reading is a beautiful passage from the Gospel of John. This gospel passage is actually Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Jesus under cover of darkness and was searching for answers for the things he could not totally understand.   In this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus somehow reveals to Nicodemus his own life mission and the very nature of God himself.   Jesus then begins by bringing up to Nicodemus the story of the bronze serpent which Moses lifted up in the desert. This story is narrated in the book of Numbers. In this narrative, the people of Israel while in the desert, began to speak against God and against Moses. As punishment, the Lord sent poisonous serpents among them. Many die that day from being bitten by these serpents.   Then the people begged Moses to ask the Lord to take away the serpents. M...