The Vineyard Laborer

Hear My Voice and Have Pity on Me Mk 10: 46 – 52 30 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction The Gospel today tells the story of the blind man Bartimaeus who got the attention of Jesus by shouting out loud: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus heals Bartimaeus telling him that his faith has saved him. The Gospel Jesus was about to leave Jericho. He was accompanied by his disciples and a sizable crowd. Along the roadside where Jesus and the crowd were walking was Bartimaeus, a blind man. This roadside would have been his usual place. The foot traffic made it the perfect place to beg. Perhaps after years of begging on the streets, his voice would have become so loud by now, as it was the only way to call the attention of the passing crowd, most of whom would not have noticed him as they quickly walked their way past him. The evangelist Mark tells us that Bartimaeus called out to the Lord   because he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth who was passin...

Let Me Find My Purpose In Life Mk 10:35 – 45 29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction The Gospel today talks about some sort of power struggle among Jesus’ disciples. James and John approached the Lord asking him to let them sit at his side when his glory comes. The Lord gently corrects them and tells his disciples that anyone who wishes to be first must become a servant to all. The Gospel The brothers James and John must have quietly approached the Lord one fine day, making sure that no one of the other disciples heard what they were about to request from the Lord. They told Jesus: “ Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left. “ They were already securing for themselves prime slots at Jesus’ kingdom when his glory comes and wanted to make sure that Jesus accedes to their request.   Jesus, must have been surprised by their request. His surprise becomes clear when ...

Empty My Heart So It Can Contain Only You Mk 10: 17 – 30 28 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Our Gospel today narrates to us the story of a man who approached Jesus, asking him how he could inherit eternal life. He came to Jesus quite enthusiastically, desiring to live a just and righteous life. However, at the end of the story, he leaves Jesus sad because he could not let go of what seems to be dear to him. The Gospel As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him. This was how the evangelist Mark described the man who came up to Jesus one day.   He was running perhaps out of excitement and showed deep respect and reverence for Jesus, as he knelt down and addressed Jesus as “good teacher.”          Then he asked Jesus: “ What must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus’ answer was quick: “ You know the commandments. You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal;...

You Remove All Obstacles For Me Mk  10: 2 – 16 27 th  Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s gospel tells us about a discussion that broke out between Jesus and some Pharisees regarding the issue about divorce. The Pharisees insisted on the legality of divorce, saying that Moses allowed it. Jesus instead tells them that it was never God’s plan to separate husband and wife since the beginning.   The reading then ends with Jesus blessing children who were brought to him. The Gospel In an apparent attempt to test Jesus, the Pharisees posed a question to Jesus asking him: “ Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”   Jesus asked them in return: “ What did Moses command you?” The Pharisees then replied back with what seems to be a passage from Deut 24: 1- 4 which says that Moses permitted a man to write a bill of divorce in order to dismiss his wife. Jesus then replied: “ Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you th...

The Pain is Nothing Compared To Being With You Mk 9: 38 -43, 45, 47- 48 26 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s Gospel tells us something about who is included in God’s kingdom and who is not. The disciples were quick to exclude someone who was doing something good simply because he was not one of them. Jesus, however, explains to them that God’s kingdom belongs to all who are righteous and do good. It is those who sin who will be excluded from the kingdom. Jesus then offers some radical solutions that would make one eligible to enter God’s kingdom. The Gospel It was perhaps one of those days when the disciples were on their own and were not in the company of Jesus. On that day, they witnessed someone driving out demons, just like the way Jesus did. What surprised them, however, was that this stranger was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They tried to stop the stranger from what he was doing because the stranger was not one of them.   ...

You Have Shown Me What Greatness Is Mk 9: 30 – 37 25 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s reading narrates to us how Jesus found out how his disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest. Jesus then takes the time   to teach them about the real meaning of greatness. The Gospel. Our reading today begins with Jesus and his disciples journeying through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know about this journey, for by now, people would have followed him if they knew he was around. Apparently, he wanted to have time with his disciples in order to teach them something very important. True enough, Jesus tells his disciples something quite confidential which so far, has been revealed only to them. He speaks once more about his passion and death, saying: “ The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him and three days after his death, the Son of Man will rise. “ But despite this pivotal revelation abou...

That I May Learn to Think Like You Mk 8: 27 -35 24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction In today’s reading, Jesus asks his disciples who they think he was. Apparently, it was Peter who was able to correctly identify and confirm who Jesus was. Notwithstanding this, Peter’s understanding of Jesus didn’t match Jesus’ own understanding of himself especially in matters relating to his suffering and death. The Gospel As Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who do people think he was. The disciples offer different answers. They tell Jesus: “ John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asks them: “ But who do you say that I am?” Peter then replies: “ You are the Christ.” The word "Christ" comes from a Greek word which means the “anointed one.” Peter’s reply seems to have been accepted by Jesus since he tells his disciples not to divulge to anyone what...