The Vineyard Laborer

You Are My Witnesses Lk 24: 46 – 53 Feast of the Ascension The Gospel Today’s gospel is Luke’s version of the Ascension. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus exhorts his disciples to be his witnesses to all the nations. Jesus also promised his disciples the gift of the Spirit as one who will clothe them with power. The Gospel             When the time came for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he said to his disciples: “ Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. “   Jesus told his disciples that his life which has been foretold by Scriptures, has now fulfilled what was written in the Scriptures. There is just, however, one more thing left that hasn’t been accomplished – the preaching of repentance and forgiveness of sins in his na...

Unshaken Jn 14: 22 – 29 Sixth Sunday of Easter Introduction Today’s reading talks about Jesus who speaks about the the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will teach and remind the disciples all that Jesus has said. The Gospel Our reading is a discourse of Jesus on a number of things. First Jesus says: “ Whoever loves me will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. “ Then Jesus goes on to speak about the Holy Spirit and says: “ I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. “ Then, as if bidding his disciples goodbye, Jesus says: “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let y...

To Love As You Have Been Loved Jn 13: 31 – 35 Fifth Sunday of Easter Introduction In today’s gospel, Jesus exhorts his disciples to love one another. Jesus tells them that in loving one another, people will know and recognize them as his disciples. The Gospel Today's reading situates us at the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and his disciples inside a room. There in that meal, Jesus reveals who would betray him. Then when Judas leaves the room, Jesus tells his disciples: “ Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and he will glorify him at once.” Notice how the word “glorify” is used by Jesus several times. The word “glory” in the gospel of John has a peculiar meaning. It connotes a moment in time when Jesus was with the Father before the world began. However, when Jesus utters the word “glory” he also refers to the time when one day, he will return and will b...

My Sheep Hear My Voice Jn 10: 27 – 30 Fourth Sunday of Easter Introduction In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus talking about the sheep of his flock. There is a bond between Jesus and his sheep; a bond that is both strong and reciprocal. This bond is made possible because of the Father who gives and entrusts the sheep to Jesus. Gospel Today’s reading is about Jesus, the good shepherd. Here, we see Jesus describing the intimate bond that exists between himself and the sheepfold, saying: “ My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” This bond is both intimate and reciprocal as it is characterized by the shepherd’s knowledge of the sheep and by the sheep’s recognition of the shepherd’s voice . This bond is so strong as it is protective as Jesus himself guarantees eternal life and the safety and security of his sheep, saying: “ I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.”   Whi...

Loving Jesus Jn 21: 1 – 19 Third Sunday of Easter Introduction The Gospel today continues with stories of Jesus’ resurrection. This resurrection story, however, happens at the Sea of Tiberias and not in Jerusalem. Here, Jesus encounters his disciples while they were fishing. Our reading also recounts the conversation between Jesus and Peter and how Jesus commanded Peter to take care of the Lord’s sheepfold as a true expression of Peter’s love for him. The Gospel             Today’s reading narrates to us how Jesus appeared to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee. Most of the resurrection stories in John occur in Jerusalem. This one happens in Galilee, the home region of Jesus and a number of his disciples. There at the Sea of Tiberias, we learn that the disciples were fishing and that they haven’t caught any fish all night long. Then early in the morning, they hear someone on the shore askin...