Love God-Love Neighbour by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

Exodus 22:21-27; 1 Thess 1:5-10; Mt 22: 34-40

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

Illustration: A story is told of a millionaire that gave most all he made to the poor. He was once asked why he lived his life this way and gave so very much to the poor. He said it was because of his father. One of his earliest memories of his father was when he took him to the circus. He said he remembers standing in line for what seemed to be hours waiting to buy the tickets and enter the Big Top. In front of them was a man with his wife and three small children. You could tell that these people lived a meager life as was evident by their clothes. As the line advanced the family in front couldn’t stop talking about how excited they were to see the circus, you could just see the pride in the father’s eyes that he was taking his family to the circus.  Finally they made it to the booth to buy the tickets. The man said proudly to the cashier, “I will take five tickets please.” The cashier came back with the price but it was far more than what the father had planned for. He didn’t have enough money to pay for the tickets. You could see the proud man’s face change to sadness. The millionaire said what had happened next is what made him into the man he is today. He said his father dug into his pocket and pulled out all he had and dropped it on the ground just behind the other man. He then tapped on the man’s shoulder and said with a wink, “friend looks like you dropped this.” The father‘s eyes swelled up with tears as he bent over to pick up the money. He gave a wink back to say thank you. He was able to take his family to the circus. The millionaire said that they never made it into the circus that day as his father gave all he had. He said his father told him that they stood in line for hours to be a blessing.

 Twelve times Deuteronomy says we are to love God. In fact, Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 when he gave the most important commandment as "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" (Mark 12:30). 

Expectations, we all have them.  how many of us have ever taken the time to ask what God expects from us? I believe that God has certain expectations from us. I think, at least in the New Testament, there is at least one of God’s expectations for us on every page. Here is a partial listing of God’s expectations for us as Christians: “Do not judge, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, don’t worry, love your enemies”. “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbour as yourself.” “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Well, maybe it is easy to love God and be generous and serviceable to God but Jesus says the 2^nd commandment is also important. Loving our neighbour. It’s important but we know from experience that it is very difficult.  It’s a huge challenge to love our neighbour.

You may remember Beatles the music sensation of the 60’s, singing "All you need is Love." There’s no doubt that there was a great truth carried in those simple lyrics. If we were to look around the world today, it’s clear that a good dose of love would cure many of the world’s ills. But it’s easier said than done, isn’t it? I mean we have no problem loving those who are close to us, our family and friends, but what about those who are different from us?

Luke 10:29 Who is my neighbour?

In other words - "To whom do I owe my love? Is my neighbour only the person who lives next door to me? Surely, he’s got to be an Israelite?" There certainly seems to be an implication that some people are my neighbour and some people aren’t. Writings have been discovered which tell us that there was an argument between rabbis as to whether Gentile converts to Judaism could be classed as a "neighbour". Perhaps the lawyer thought he could get Jesus embroiled in the controversy. So, Jesus comes up with a beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan. He painted a picture of someone with:

MERCIFUL LEGS-The Samaritan was walking the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, notorious for violence, and known as "the way of blood". It’s so like the world we live in, but we can’t isolate ourselves from contact with its casualties. Jesus made the point that his "legs of mercy" took him to "where the wounded man was".

UNDERSTANDING EYES-The Good Samaritan immediately saw the need. "When he saw the wounded man" he recognized the need.

A LOVING HEART-Jesus said that the Samaritan "took pity on him". The compassionate power of the Samaritan’s heart forced him to do something. A heart full of compassion is always followed by action. It might result in moving into situations which, humanly speaking, might be avoided. But the love of Christ breaks down barriers. The Good Samaritan broke through the racial barrier, putting the priest and the Levite to shame.

CARING HANDS-The Samaritan ministered to the victim. Caring is costly. It took time to stop by the beaten-up man to give him first aid. Caring can cost money & time.

The modern world has changed too much.  The society is becoming increasingly ungrateful and narcissistic.  So, we Christians have challenges in loving our neighbour.

•      It is a challenge to love others when they have hurt us. “Give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness.” Deitrich Bonhoeffer.
•      It is a challenge to love others when we have had a bitter life. Our own heartaches and pains sometimes cause us to be slow to love others.
•         It is a challenge to love others when they have created their own troubles! “Love is my decision to make your problem my problem.” Robert Schuller. 1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  
• It is a challenge to love those with whom we do not agree. “The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and sympathy.” D. L. Moody. 1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”

So, my dear brothers and sisters let us love God by loving our neighbour. For our neighbour too is created in the image and likeness of God.

“When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.”  -Martin Luther King JR.

👉30th Sunday in Ordinary Time-29th October 2023

Give to God What Belongs to God. What does that mean? by Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 WONDERING GURU

Isaiah 45:1,4-6; 1Thes 1:1-5; Mt. 22: 15-21

Fr. Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Story:  A Little Boy desperately wanted $100.00 to buy some toys and prayed to God for a whole week, but nothing happened. So, he decided to write a letter to God requesting the $100.00. When the Post Office got the letter addressed to God, they forwarded it on to the White house. The President surprisingly received it was very impressed, touched and amused so he instructed his aid to send the boy $5.00. He thought $5.00 would be a lot to the little boy. And the boy was, indeed, delighted by the money. He sat down and immediately wrote a thank you note, which read: Dear God, thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you had to send it through Washington DC and, as usual, they kept most of it.

Understanding the Bible on Money: Sixteen of the 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions. In the Gospels, an amazing one out of 10 verses deal directly with the subject of money. The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money and possessions. (Howard L. Dayton Jr.)

Understanding The Tax System: The Romans levied several taxes on the Jews. There was something called the ground tax, it was a tax of 10% of whatever came out of the ground such as grains, wine and oil. Then there was the income tax, just 1% of one's cash income with no deductions, of course. And, finally, there was the poll tax. It amounted to a denarius which was approximately the wage of a common labourer for one day's work. And it was levied on every male from age 14 through 65 and on ever female from age 12 through 65. It was this poll tax that was the subject of the question. It was a special tax, because it had to be paid in Roman silver coinage. Other business and tax matters could be paid in copper coinage, gold bullion, or other acceptable currency. But the poll tax had to be paid with the Roman silver denarius. And, these coins bore the image of the emperor, and they were inscribed with an inscription "Tiberius Caesar, Son of the divine Augustus." Now, this tax was a point of great controversy among the Jews.  The Herodians, of course, were united in favour of the tax. In fact, they were in favour of all the Roman taxes. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were very much opposed to paying Caesar any taxes at all. But it was the poll tax that irritated the Pharisees the most. Because they had to use a coin which bore a graven image of someone who claimed to be a descendant from a god.

Understanding the Trap- Now, what’s odd about this question is that it was posed by a group of Pharisees and Herodians The Pharisees hated Rome and the Herodians wanted better relations with Rome and approved Roman taxation. The only reason they joined forces was because they both hated Jesus and wanted Him destroyed. Jesus knew what these men were thinking long before they showed up. Can you see the trap laid by the Pharisees and the Herodians? If Jesus answered that the people had to pay their taxes the Pharisees could condemn Him to the crowds as a friend of the hated Romans. BUT if Jesus replied that people should Not pay their taxes the Herodians would brand Him an enemy of Rome and had Him arrested.

Understanding Jesus’ Answer: Jesus’ response, of course, put their conspiracy to flight. He began by calling them what they are.  "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?". The charge of hypocrisy was aimed directly at the Pharisees, for they paid the poll tax even though they judged it to be a violation of two of the ten commandments. The Herodians couldn’t accuse Jesus of being a revolutionary because He’d just endorsed paying the Roman taxes. He said: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

Understanding our Responsibility: How do we know what to give to the government? By the images on the bills and coins. So, then, what do I give to God? Where do I find God’s image? Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’” We were made in God’s image/likeness. We need to give what belongs to Him - back to Him. We need to give ME to God. Now how do we do that? How do we give ourselves to God? First, we need to BELONG to Him, and to do that we need to believe in Jesus. Ephesians 1:13 tells us. “Having believed (in Jesus), you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit”.

Conclusion: Dear brothers and sisters we are the coins. We are the image of God's realm. We owe God our whole being for we are created in His Image. You know the Pharisees would not have missed what Jesus was really saying about them. He had been hammering them for days for exactly this failure. In parables, Jesus told them that they are God's workers in the vineyard, who refuse to give to God the fruit of the vineyard. They are God's sons who say they will serve him, but then refuse. They are the sons of God's Kingdom who refuse to come to the marriage of the King's Son.

Jesus does not speak about two kingdoms. He speaks about two images. We were made in God's image therefore Jesus is calling us to "Give to God… what is God's!" In other words, we who carry God’s image to what degree and in what ways are we giving ourselves to God what belongs to God? To what degree and in what ways is the image of Christ evident in our life? As Christians how do we portray God's image to the world? The Bible tells us:  "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' (Mat 22:37-40). Are we following God’s command?

 

👉29th Sunday in Ordinary Time-22nd October 2023

Répondez s'il vous plaît, (RSVP) by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

WONDERING GURU

Isaiah 25:6-10A; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

Introduction: The eastern weddings were several days long and were a highlight of social activity, the banquet was the climax of the festivities, royal weddings lasted for several weeks and the banquet was the key social event of the decade, invitations were made well in advance and people would boast about the invitation. A wedding feast was the highlight of all social life. And a wedding feast that a king prepared for his son would be the “mother of all feasts”.  This was the ultimate party. Now in that place and time, there was a two-stage process of being invited to a wedding. The invitation was actually sent out well in advance of the banquet and everyone sent back their RSVP. Then, those who had said "yes" received a courtesy reminder on the day of the banquet itself. So, the king sent out his servants to tell everyone to come join the party, but those who had been invited wouldn’t come. And you know how the king felt, don’t you? We’ve all had that happen to us at some time or another. You spend hours and hours getting everything ready. You work hard and you’re excited about what you’ve got planned. The big day comes. But very few turn up. You know how it feels. You want to cry. It makes you angry and frustrated. You know how the king in this parable felt.

Story: Several years ago Nicole Contos was scheduled to be married in a Manhattan church. She showed up. 250 invited guests showed up, but the groom didn’t.  So, there she was with a $100,000 reception and no wedding. What did she do? She did the only thing she could do. She said, “The food is ready, the drink is ready. We’re gonna have a party. And she did.” Ms. Contos, 27, changed from her wedding gown into a black dress and turned what had been planned as her wedding reception into a party. Her brother gave a toast, and she danced to the disco hit ''I Will Survive.'' (For a Jilted Bride, No Wedding Bell Blues by James Barron, Nov. 25, 1997)

Reflection: That’s what the king does here in this parable. He says, “The food is ready. The drink is ready. We’re gonna have a party.” And he did. He invited everybody. Anybody who wanted to come was welcome to enjoy the feast -- good and bad. When the respectable folks refused, he invited the disreputable and despised. The banquet hall was filled with people.

The king in this parable obviously is God, and the invited guests were his chosen people, the Jews, who had already been called by him. The servants God sent to them again and again were John the Baptist, Jesus himself, and the New Testament apostles and prophets. But John the Baptist was rejected and beheaded, Jesus was rejected and crucified, and the apostles and prophets were rejected and persecuted, many being put to death.  When the Jews rejected the kingdom, the invitation was then extended to anyone and everyone who wanted to come. In Acts 13:46, Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews of Antioch, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” And that’s exactly what they did.

The king came in to see how the banquet was going, and he spotted someone without a wedding garment and he was furious. Commentators tell us that in that day and time the king supplied the wedding garment himself. All the guests had to do was just put it on. But here was a man who didn’t even make the small effort involved in putting on the proper clothing. It’s important for us to remember that accepting an invitation means accepting the terms of the invitation. If you go for a party and the invitation card clearly mentions the dress code respect the invitation. Accepting an invitation means accepting the terms of the invitation. At first glance, it seems a small thing, but it’s not. This guy without a wedding garment thought he could come to the king’s feast on his own terms, thinking his own clothes were good enough. A lot of people want to be a part of the feast, but they don’t want to submit themselves to God’s terms.

This story teaches us (God’s workers) involved in inviting people to Lord’s banquet some important truths about inviting people to God’s party. When inviting people to the party we will experience…

• Rejection (vv. 3-7). Stubbornness. The Jewish people were the first to be invited. Christ came to this earth as a Jew. John 1:11 says that Jesus came to His own people, but His own people did not receive Him. They were so proud of their own goodness and religious heritage that they saw no need of His grace. (Rom 9:31-10:4.) It’s the same today.  Invite people to the party and you’ll know rejection.
• Busy-ness. Others have been too busy to come. (vv. 4-5). "Everything is ready." We don’t have to make ourselves ready for the party.  Christ has done it all. He met every condition for our salvation.  All we have to do is come. But some don’t come. Many would rather chase after the things of this life. They are indifferent. They were not concerned about the king's desires, but only about what they thought was in their own best interests. That’s the way it is with people today. They think, "How’s that Jesus stuff going to help me in the here and now? I have kids to raise! I have a degree to earn! I have a business to run! Don’t bother me with an invitation to a party that isn’t going to happen for a long, long time - if it’s going to happen at all!" Invite people to the party and you’ll know rejection in the form of busy-ness.
• Abusiveness-Some have persecuted those who have invited them to come. (vv. 6-7). This was aimed right at the Jewish religious leaders. Prophets had been persecuted and killed for their message of repentance to the Jewish people. Telling people to repent and get ready for the party is never a popular message. And Jesus is looking into His own future here, too. He knew that a cross was coming. Invite people to God’s part there is possibility that abuse will come.
• Some will respond. (vv. 8-10)-The Jews for the most part rejected Jesus. So, God sent the good news out to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. Other people were brought in. God is calling out a people from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation. Notice who comes to the party: people both evil and good. God is making no distinction between open "sinners" and the "morally correct." Everyone is invited. No matter who they are. The reason that some will respond is because the gospel - the good news about Jesus - has power. Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."

Our responsibility as you can see it in verse 9 is to go, to find and teach them to dress rightly.

To go-Wherever people are, that’s where we are to go. We don’t wait for people to come to us. We go to them.  "Go." Sounds like the great commission, doesn’t it? Matthew 28:19 says, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel." That command is for every disciple. Are you doing something to obey that command from Jesus?

To find-Find the people who will come. Don’t give up! Don’t call yourself a passionate follower of Jesus unless you are seeking to find the lost! People will come if we just looking for the responsive ones. My responsibility is to go and to find.

To dress rightly. (vv. 11-12) You might be wondering, "How could the king expect these people from the byways and highways to come properly dressed? They had been rounded up from everywhere. Many had come from the streets. But think with me. If we want to be dressed for this heavenly party we must put on some new clothes. Isaiah 64:4 says that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags. But God knows we need forgiveness and a righteousness that isn’t our own. He provides it. When Christ died on the cross, He took our sin, our rebellion, our dirt and gave us His holiness, His submission, His clean-ness. The old hymn says, "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" To be dressed rightly means that we are covered by His blood! When that happens, it’s joy! we’re ready for the wedding! It’s party time! Listen to Isaiah 61:10. "I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness." When we are covered by His blood, we are made righteous in God’s sight. 2 Cor 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Conclusion-As we prepare ourselves to be part of God’s banquet let’s not forget to invite our family, our friends and relatives to God’s party.

👉28th Sunday in Ordinary Time-October 15 2023

Taking Care of the Kingdom of God by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

WONDERING GURU

 

Isaiah 5:1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21: 33-43

Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

 

Introduction:  The vineyard immediately brings to mind Israel (Is 5:1-7). The landowner who planted the vineyard is God. The wicked vinedressers [husbandmen] represent Israel’s leaders (Mt 21:45). The servants who were sent on behalf of the landowner represent the prophets. As a nation, Israel rejected many of her prophets (2 Chr. 36:15-16). Note the cry of Jesus over Jerusalem later on in (Mt 23:37). The landowner’s son is Jesus Christ Himself. The Pharisees knew he was talking about them. They had been given a vineyard to work in. Overtime, they claimed the vineyard as their own, No longer open to the outsider, but instead, a closed fraternity of “holy” people. Other prophets were beaten, maimed, and murdered so that the assumed authority of the Pharisees would not be challenged.

   This was God’s plan thwarted by His chosen people.  Jesus reminds the pharisees. God sent Noah, the Flood and Death. The sin that began in the Garden of Eden grew until it covered the whole world. God saved Noah and his family, mankind began over again, but man was going down into sin’s dungeon again. He sent Moses, the Law, and the Blood Sacrifice. One would think they would be grateful, but less than a hundred miles in their journey, they already sinned against Almighty God. He sent David with songs of assurance and forgiveness. The testimonies of David did not move the people, they went on and on in their sins. He sent Isaiah with his loving invitations but the people went on in sin. He sent the Kings of the earth, with captivity and chastisement. Last of all He sent His Son (Mat 21:33-4). God told his people if they sinned, he would send them into captivity, they lived right for a while but soon forgot. Cruel Kings with armies came and took them into slavery. Every plan seemed to fail; it was always man’s fault. Then God did the greatest thing he ever did.  Last of all he sent His Son.  Here are some things to help us understand why God sent his Son.

       GOD SENT HIS SON TO REVEAL HIS OWN HEART-Through the years people had heard about God, they had felt his judgements. But really did not know his great heart or how much he really loved them. So, when Jesus came, God said "This is my beloved Son, hear him" In saying this he was telling them My son and me are one.  To love God and Know God’s love, one has to look into the face of Jesus Christ.

GOD SENT HIS SON TO BE A PICTURE OF HIS POWER-When he saw a blind man, he gave him his sight. To a cripple he gave his walk, to a leper he gave cleansing, He brought the dead to life, gave comfort and hope to broken hearts, He stilled the storms and fed the hungry. All this he did to show how God cared for his people.

GOD SENT HIS SON TO BECOME A BLOOD SACRIFICE-Christ is the only and final sacrifice for sin. Rivers of animal blood could never do what Jesus did. The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

GOD SENT HIS SON TO BE A NEW AND LIVING WAY-The only way to heaven is through Jesus. He is the ladder from earth to heaven.

Conclusion: The first reading is a message from God’s prophet to His people Israel. It is a parable with a terribly sad ending. You see, Israel had failed God again. And we shrug our shoulders and sigh. We shake our heads. Why? Why would Israel reject God and His call to Holiness again and again. If only we had the signs and wonders they had, we’d never fall away! But The Church the new Israel like the old Israel listens but she doesn’t learn.

     Like the Pharisees we come to think of the vineyard as something we own. The church, our jobs, our money, our possessions, and yes, even our bodies. None of this stuff is ours actually. We are merely stewards in the vineyard not the owners. God desires to order our lives. To make it manageable, even prosperous if we will trust him. If we put him first, these other things take on a far different perspective. God gives us a certain order to our lives if we are willing to be obedient, faithful stewards of the gifts he has given us. When we recognize that what we have is not ours in the first place, it frees us from having to constantly try and control and worry about everything, It allows God to be God the master of the vineyard.

Jesus told the religious leaders of his time and he is telling us his followers of modern times that if do not take proper care of the kingdom of God it would be given to others. And those others could be anyone irrespective of religion, culture or country who believes that Jesus is the son of God. So, let’s be responsible and faithful in taking care of the kingdom of God producing good fruits that build the kingdom of God.

👉27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 8th October 2023