The Vineyard Laborer

The Pharisee and Tax Collector Lk 18: 9 – 14 30 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s reading is a parable about a certain Pharisee and a tax collector who both went into the temple to pray. When both had finished praying, we hear Jesus telling us that it was the tax collector who went home justified. The Gospel 9  He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14  I...

#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight#GospelReflection October 23, 2019 Wednesday of the 29 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Luke 12: 39- 48 Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid ++++++++++++++++++++ The Gospel 39 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he * would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’ 41 Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ 42 And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink an...

The Persistent Widow Lk 18: 1 – 8 29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s reading is a parable about a widow who got her demands for justice from a judge because of her persistence. This parable teaches us how we should pray. Like the widow, we should be persistent and never lose hope. The Gospel Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2  He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3  In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4  For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7  And will not God gra...

#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight#GospelReflection October 16, 2019 Wednesday of the 28 th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Luke 11: 42 - 46 Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid ++++++++++++++++++++ The Gospel 42  Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. 43  Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. 44  Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.” 45  Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” 46  And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them. ++++++++++++++++++++ Reflection Unmarked Graves In our reading today,...

The Healing of the Ten Lepers Lk 17: 11 – 19 Introduction Today’s reading is about ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. Surprisingly, only one of them returned to Jesus to thank him. The Gospel 11  As he continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. [ a ] 12  As he was entering a village, ten lepers met [him]. They stood at a distance from him 13  and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” 14  And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” [ b ] As they were going they were cleansed. 15  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; 16  and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 17  Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? 18  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” 19  Then he said to him, “Stand up and ...

Increase Our Faith Lk 17: 5 – 10 27 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s gospel speaks about two things. First, about faith and second, about servanthood.   These two things, which may seem to be distinct from one another, might just be so related to one another: one needs faith to remain a servant of the Lord. The Gospel 5  And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” 6  The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to [this] mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.   7  “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? 8  Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? 9  Is he grateful to that se...