Good Son vs Bad Son by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Ez 18:25-28  Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21:28-32

 This Sunday the master teacher changes his method of teaching. It’s no longer an exciting street lined with many people. Today it is a kind of classroom teaching. Not a classroom with desks and chalkboards. But a classroom with a teacher and students. Jesus the master teacher talking to his disciples, religious leaders, and crowds. Today’s lesson plan contains a story of two sons.

The first son when requested to go to the vineyard says “no,” dishonouring his father in public, even though he changes his mind later. The second son politely says, “yes,” but then doesn’t do what he says. Even though the Pharisees say the son who eventually goes to the vineyard is the better of the two, in my opinion neither of them deserve any awards.  The one son dishonours his father, the other son is disobedient.

So, to whom does this parable refer to?  Who were they who wound up doing the father’s will? They were the so-called bad guys. They were the ones who had spent their whole lives previously saying NO to God. They wound up getting it right! The First Son represents the tax collectors and harlots who believed John the Baptist and repented. They had spent their entire lives saying NO to God. At John’s preaching, they repented/changed their minds/regretted their actions and believed.

The Second Son represents the Chief Priests and elders. Made their livelihood out of convincing everyone that they had done a marvelous job of saying YES to God. Had failed to really understand what God was calling them to thus failed to really obey. If ever a nation was called to do the work of God in the world, it was Israel, and they spent a lot of time performing ceremonies in which they said YES to God. Yet, by the time Christ came, the judgment of God upon them was this: “This people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” They said YES with their mouths, but their feet walked in the direction of NO.

Like most of Jesus’ parables, this story isn’t really about the two boys. It’s about you and me. It’s about two kinds of people in this world. The one kind professes faith in God, but doesn’t live a faithful life. The other does the will of God while saying “no” to belief in God.

The bottom line, in Jesus’ explanation to the chief priests and elders -- and probably to anyone else who will listen -- is that we can no longer make excuses because of birth or background or culture.  All that matters is who we are and whose we are. Christianity is about saying YES to God, not only with our mouths, but with our hands, our feet, our hearts, our check books, our priorities, our passions, our relationships, our occupations.  You see this world influences our thoughts and actions and even our belief system. But God tells us our intentions and our motives matter despite what this world is teaching and preaching to us. What we believe will change who we are. Obedience is the key to do God’s will.

 

👉26th Sunday in Ordinary Time-1^st Oct 2023

 

 

Living for Christ & Dying for Christ by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

WONDERING GURU

Isaiah 55: 6-9; Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20: 1-16

Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

When the Apostle Paul originally wrote the letter to the church of Phillipi, he was in prison - under house arrest in Rome – chained to a Roman soldier as his guard. Paul was a prisoner and yet this entire letter is about joy. It is filled with the words “joy” and “rejoicing”. The Christian life is meant to imitate Christ in all circumstances. You see, God has a purpose for life – for His glory. For Paul, life was not about getting things. For Paul, life was about pointing others to God. For him life was all about Jesus. It was about giving God the glory for everything. For good times, because they are a blessing. For bad times, too, because God uses them to make us stronger and wiser.

God has a purpose for each of our lives. He did not play dice when he created us. The purpose is to bring honour and glory to our God through our Christian way of living.  In order to live our faith faithfully sometimes persecution and death even becomes part of our faith journey.  St. Paul is the best example. So, St. Paul tells that…

SOMETIMES CHAINS ARE NEEDED TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL.

Paul certainly could have written an entire book to the Philippians about his hardships but he sums them up by calling them “the things that happened to me.” (Also read Acts 21:17-28:31). Paul was chained to a Roman guard 24/7. The shifts changed every 6 hours. So, Paul was able to witness to at least four men a day. Don’t you imagine it had an effect on these guys to know that he was in prison for preaching and yet to see him, full of joy, still telling others about Christ? You might say “Well that worked in Paul’s day but we don’t face the same type of persecution.” You would be right for the most part. But persecution does exist today in many countries in various forms.

SOMETIMES DEATH IS NEEDED TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL

It’s a real possibility that Paul’s imprisonment will end in death. The death sentence hasn’t been passed, but it’s possible. Now this has got to be the most frightening of all Paul’s problems. Anything else he could get over. He’s in prison - well, maybe he’ll be let free eventually. People are rubbishing him - well, he can tell people the truth sometime. But death - well, there’s no reversing that, is there. So how does he respond to the possibility of dying? Verse 20 says: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

So Paul’s not even worried about death. In fact, he’s more worried about letting Jesus down. Whatever happens, whether in life or death, he wants Jesus to be honoured. You know what this means? It means Paul would rather die than let Jesus down. Someone beautifully said, “Life without Christ is a hopeless end, but with Christ, it’s an endless hope.” There is always hope in Christ: hope of a better day, a better life, and a better everything. So, what do we learn today? Paul gives important advice for victory in this war against the enemy.

CONSISTENCY IN LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

1. 27a “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.”

Story: Some convicted drunken drivers in the Florida Panhandle were ordered to put bumper stickers on their cars asking, "How’s my driving? ... The judge wants to know!" The judge said, "We want to influence people to correct their behavior rather than just use this as sort of a monitoring system." The application for us is: HOW’S MY LIVING? And the world is watching. Our conduct should be worthy of the gospel.

The story is told that Alexander the Great once met a lazy, good-for-nothing soldier in his army and asked his name. The soldier replied, “Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great then said, “Either change your name or change your ways.” It’s possible that Christ could say these words to some of us today. Consistent living for Christ is needed in order to overcome the enemy.

Dr. James Boice once said, “We do not have a strong church today nor do we have many strong Christians… We have forgotten what God is like and what He promises to do for those who trust Him. Ask the average Christian to talk about God. After getting past the expected answers you will find that his god is a little god of vacillating sentiments…” That’s the sad reality of today. If our faith is weak, how can we live and die for Christ?

A small boy riding a bus home from Sunday school was very proud of the card he had received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.” Then to his dismay the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window. “Stop the bus!” he cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’” The driver pulled the bus to a stop, and as the lad climbed out and went to retrieve his card, one of the adult riders smiled and made a comment about the innocence of youth. A more perceptive adult observed, “All of us would be better off if we were that concerned about our faith."

Conclusion: Our final inheritance is not here it’s in heaven. It’s only beyond the gates of death that we even hear the precious words of our Lord “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of your Lord” Matt 25:21.  If for me to Live is Christ then to die is gain. If for me to live is money, to die is a loss, If for me to live is pleasure, to die is a loss, if for me to live is self, to die is a loss, if for me to live is ambition, to die is a loss, if for me to live is sin, to die is a loss. if for me to live is this world, to die is a loss. But if for me to live is Christ to Die is gain.

 

👉25th Sunday in Ordinary Time-24th September 2023

 

Forgiveness is a Journey, Not an One Time Event by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Sir 27:30—28:7; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM cap

Story of The Fall of Troy-A Trojan horse sits just outside the gate of your heart. Its name is anger, resentment, and bitterness. It is a monument to every attack you have endured from your fellowman. It is a gift left by the people who have wronged you. It is a monument to the pain, sorrow and devastation they have caused you. But to accept the gift is to invite ruin into your life. It is only a lure. The celebration is short-lived. Once inside the walls of your heart, it releases its agents of destruction. Its plot quietly unfolds from the inside out. It is the Trojan horse of destruction. You must never bring it inside.

   How People Protect Their Wounds

•         Standing Back - anger, bitterness, hate, fear.

•         Striking Back - anger and revenge

•         Sharing It - same story of hurt and anger retold

•         Stuffing It – Denial, negativity caused by suppressed anger.

                                         The Necessity of Forgiveness

•         Because We Have Been Forgiven by God

•         Because We Have Been Commanded by God Col 3:12-1

                           

                                        The Danger of Un-Forgiveness.

•         If we do not forgive people we ourselves will not be forgiven.

•         Carrying An Unnecessary Burden

•         Giving the Devil a Foothold (Eph 4:26-27) Hebrews 12:15

•         A Hindered Relationship

 Conclusion--I believe that the sin that may keep more people out of Heaven than any other is the sin of unforgiveness. I believe that there are many Christians who for some reason refuse to let go of grudges. Throughout the course of our life we can expect to be wronged from time to time by others. We may even feel strongly that what another did was wrong. We though cannot hold onto that anger and bitterness, but we must forgive. Whenever we sin and mess up and then come to God in sincere repentance, we expect God to forgive us. It is often different for us though when we are wronged. We often have a hard time letting go and forgiving. The easy thing to do is to stay angry, it takes much more effort and much more trouble to forgive and let go of something. But as Christians we are not requested but commanded to forgive.

Last Word-A wounded heart that doesn’t receive healing is an open door for evil spirits. Eph 4:26-27, I Pet 5:8, Gen 4:4-7, Mat 18:21-35

 

👉Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2023

 

Prayer Partners by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Ezekiel 33: 7-9; Romans 13: 8-10; Matthew 18: 15-20

Introduction: God tells Ezekiel in the first reading to tell the wicked man, that he may be converted from his ways otherwise he shall die in his iniquity. St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we should love our neighbour. In the gospel Jesus says “if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.  For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.

When we love our neighbour, we often come into conflicts. We come across various types of people as our neighbours. Sometimes we are happy other times we are angry with our neighbours.  My own family member can be a neighbour with whom I struggle to live my Christian values and faith. So, in this context today’s readings invite us to recognise the problem and start a prayer crusade even with just two or three members.

John Maxwell author of many books says "When confronting a person about a conflict issue, I have discovered that 50% don’t realize there is a problem. 30% realize there is a problem but don’t know how to solve it. 20% realize there is a problem but don’t want to solve it. Notice that 80% of the time there is potential to solve the conflict." The Bible says “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath”.  (Eph 4:26). “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him” (Prov 18:13). “Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you” (Prov 9:8). "Successful confrontation usually changes both people, not just one" writes John Maxwell.

Christians need to manage the conflict constructively. Matthew 5:25 says “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him”. "Unsolvable conflict is almost always because of a wrong attitude…not because of the issue"  once again writes John Maxwell. So, when Christians face difficult situations of any kind we are invited to pray even if we are only two.  Therefore, I have themed this reflection as “Praying Partners’. It can also be themed as “Prayer of Agreement”.

WHY THE POWER OF TWO?

Paul and Silas demonstrated the power of two as they sang in the jail at Philippi. In response, God sent angels to shake the foundations of that jail. Paul and Silas walked out of the jail with the keys in one hand and the converts in the other. They knew the power of two. Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. He gave them the authority to bind and loose things on this earth, and if they did so, this would be honoured in heaven through the power of two.

Two signifies: 1. Strength (Ecc. 4:12) 2. Encouragement (Ecc. 4:10). 3. Success.  (Ecc. 4:9) 4. Defense. (Ecc. 4:11) 5. Added Faith (Mat. 18:19; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 11:6). 6. Overcomes our limitations (I Cor. 12:21).

"Agree together" means to have a kind of symphony. In the music world to have a symphony you must have as someone said:  A Score = Word of God, A Conductor = The Holy Spirit and Musicians/ those who play the music = You and Me! The Greek word "agree", is "sumphoneo", the word from which is derived the English word, "symphony." One of the powerful aspects of a symphony orchestra is the way such a large number of instrumentalists work together to bring out the composer’s work. Jesus is teaching us to likewise work together and harmonize with other Christ followers in our prayer lives. This gives our prayers great power. Together we achieve the work of our heavenly composer. Christ also taught us to enter our prayer closets and pray alone. (Mat 6:6) But there are times when we should seek out others who agree with our prayer requests and pray with them. Praying with others fine tunes our prayers just like rehearsing together perfects the work of the symphony.

Conclusion: 2 Chron. 7:14 reads: if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV). Prayer is an awesome force. The Prayer of Agreement has the greatest potential in our world. But for this prayer to be effective there has to be elements of Conversion. (Mt. 18:1-3, 2 Chron. 7:14), of Humility. (Mt. 18:4, 2 Chron. 7:14) and of Reconciliation. (Mt. 18:15-18, 2 Chron. 7:14) Only when these elements are found together can the Prayer of Agreement be made with power.

What area of your life is under attack? Your marriage? Your children? Your business? Your finances? Your health? Your emotions? Your relationships? Find a prayer partner and start praying together.

👉23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10th September 2023

Understanding the Cost of Discipleship by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

                                                      WONDERING GURU

Jer 20: 7-9: Rom 12: 1-2; Mat 16: 21-27

 Introduction: Everybody wants to go to Heaven but not many are willing to pay the price to get there. Just “desiring” or “wanting” to be like Jesus and to be with Jesus aren’t enough. There is a price of discipleship that must be paid if we are to experience God’s heaven. The cost of discipleship can be summed up in three commands when Jesus said Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.

The life of a disciple is the life of surrender to a cause greater than our own. The life of a disciple is a life of discipline to force our will to conform to the will of God and not to be conformed into the image of this world. Disciples of Christ live according to a completely different mindset than what the world has. Jesus never picks His disciples according to the standards of the world. Jesus picks us according to the standards of His desires and according to the person that we can become if we will only surrender to His will and answer His Call.  Jesus can see in you and I what no one else can see. He sees the end result of what we will become and not the unlearned and ignorant person that we are. Just being chosen isn’t enough though. If we are to really be a disciple of Christ there is a path of life that we must walk that is far different from anyone around us who doesn’t serve God.

The Cost of Discipleship involves DENYING OURSELVES. That means that we must put God’s work and the call of God upon our lives ahead of everything else in life.  The Cost of Discipleship involves FOLLOWING JESUS! Following Jesus entails getting to know Him in a very personal and intimate way. That kind of relationship only comes by spending time in the Word of God and in a constant attitude of prayer, talking to Jesus. It’s learning the heart of God and learning to love Him and other people the way that God loves them. Following Jesus means to learn to be like Him in every way. Learning to trust Him, learning to believe in Him, learning to hear and know His voice, learning to know His will for your life, and learning His Word.

The Cost of Discipleship involves LIVING HOLY LIFE-To be holy is to be Christ-like; to be holy in thought, word and deed is to be Christ-like in thought, word and deed. To have a holy heart is to have a heart like Jesus. To be holy in our attitudes, ambitions and activities, is to be Christ-like in our attitudes, ambitions and activities. In short, to be Christ-like necessitates having the mind of Christ! (Phil. 2:5-8)

There is a DECISION one must make. The decision to become a true disciple of Christ is characterized by three attributes: the RECOGNITION of Jesus’ identity, the RECEPTION of Jesus’ invitation and the REQUIREMENT of commitment. It is a commitment to persevere. Jesus is not saying "Try following Me for a while to see if you like it." Jesus is clearly stipulating that His requirements for discipleship involves a call to full-time commitment! His call to follow involves a commitment to keep on following no matter where He leads, no matter who else is willing to follow, and no matter what happens to you as you follow. A personal relationship with Jesus is based upon COMMITMENT, not experience. Commitment is a choice, not a feeling! It is a choice of your heart, mind and will. Commitment is the glue that holds a relationship together.

Conclusion: Dear brothers and sisters, Your personal relationship with Jesus will be uniquely DIFFERENT from that of any other believer. A personal relationship with Jesus must grow through NURTURE or will be destroyed through neglect. Placing before you a Martyr’s Measure of Commitment: "I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still…I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have prayed up and paid up for the cause of Jesus Christ. I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear!" (A note found in the office of a young Pastor in Zimbabwe, Africa, following his martyrdom for his faith in Jesus Christ. Found in ’the signature of Jesus’ by Brennan Manning)

“A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing”. - M. Luther.

👉22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 3^rd September 2023