The Vineyard Laborer

Discipleship Mt 10: 37 – 42 13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Introduction Today’s Gospel defines for us what a disciple of Jesus is. A disciple is one who loves the Lord above everything else. Such love urges a disciple to follow the Lord and eventually serve him. Gospel 37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38  and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40  “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41  Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42  and whoever gives even a cup of...

Jesus The Living Bread Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Jn 6: 51 – 58 Introduction Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Today, we remember Jesus giving himself as food and drink for the life of the world. The Gospel 51  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52  The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53  So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54  Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55  for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56  Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57  Just a...

God so Loved the World Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Jn 3: 16 – 18 Introduction Today is Trinity Sunday. It is a feast that reminds us of who God is. God is a fellowship of persons whom we call the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Though distinct from one another, they have but one divine nature. This one God, as we hear in today’s reading, so loved the world that he sent his only Son to redeem a world that was lost.   The Gospel 16  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17  “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18  Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Reflection JOHN 3: 16,   A LIFE V...

Receive the Holy Spirit Jn 20: 19 – 23 Solemnity of Pentecost Intro Today is Pentecost Sunday. In today’s reading Jesus breathes upon his disciples and gives them the gift of the Spirit. The Gospel 19  When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Reflection Today is Pentecost Sunday. On this day we recall how the Spirit was given to u...

The Ascension of the Lord Mt 28: 16 – 20 Introduction Today is the feast of the Lord’s Ascension. As Jesus is taken up to heaven, he commissions us to make disciples of all nations. And even if he is taken physically from us, Jesus assures us of his presence until the end of time. The Gospel 16  Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Reflection Today’s reading is taken from the last chapter of Matthew’s gospel. It describes to us how the risen...

I Will Not Leave You Orphans Jn 14: 15 – 21 Sixth Sunday of Easter Introduction In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises another Advocate who will remain with his disciples. This Advocate is also called the Spirit of Truth who will accompany the disciples and will never leave them orphans. The Gospel 15  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17  This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18  “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19  In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20  On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21  They who have my commandments and keep them are those who lov...

Where I am, There You May Also Be Jn 14: 1 – 12 Fifth Sunday of Easter Introduction Today’s reading is a farewell discourse of Jesus addressed to his disciples. While Jesus tells them that he will be gone for a little while, he promises them that soon they will all be reunited once more in the Father’s house. The Gospel “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4  And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7  If you ...