Opinion

On two occasions, the religious leaders in Jerusalem try to trap Jesus and find reason to accuse and condemn him. First, they send a group of Pharisees and Herodians (an odd alliance of two opposing groups momentarily united by a common enemy) to question Jesus about taxation. Next, they send a delegation of Sadducees (who do not believe in the resurrection) to question about the resurrection. In both instances, Jesus comes out unscathed as he outwits his adversaries and turns the tables on them.Now they make a third attempt and send a scribe to question Jesus about the law. At first glance, it seems like a mismatch between an expert of the law and a non-accredited preacher and carpenter from an unknown town of Nazareth. “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?" the scribe asks J...

Wanting to trap Jesus on a religious-state issue, the joint forces of the Pharisees and Herodians gang up on him with a question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” “Show me the coin that pays the census tax… whose image is this and whose inscription?” Jesus replies.Here we see one of the smartest moves of Jesus in confronting his opponents. Someone even says that his response is nothing short of majestic. By his answer Jesus turns the tables on his adversaries and unveils their hypocrisy, without disclosing his own position, thus extricating himself from the dilemma.Jesus answers the question with a dual ‘Render’ call. Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and render to God what belongs to God.To better understand the meaning of the first call (to render ...

This Sunday we are presented with another parable of the kingdom of God.A king prepares a lavish banquet for his son’s wedding and sends messengers to summon those who are invited. When they refuse, he sends other servants to serve the invitation. Again, they refuse; some give excuses while others mistreat and kill the servants. The king is enraged and orders to execute the murderers and burn their city. Seeing the banquet ready but empty of guests, he sends his messengers to the streets to gather everyone they can find until the banquet hall is filled.Like the story of the vineyard (last Sunday’s gospel), today’s parable is an allegorical story of salvation history. The reference is obvious and straightforward. The king is God, the bridegroom is Jesus, and the invitation to the fe...

(For lack of sufficient time to prepare this Sunday’s homily, allow me to repost an old one with a few adjustments.)Today’s readings center around the image of the vineyard. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah sings of his friend who gives all his love and care for his vineyard and looks forward to an abundant harvest. The friend is sorely disappointed, when at harvest time the vineyard yields only sour grapes. The song tragically ends with the owner destroying his vineyard.In the gospel, Jesus takes the song to a higher level and develops it into a parable which reveals a deeper meaning. The parable tells of a landowner who plants a vineyard and provides everything needed for its full operation. He then leases it to tenants. At harvest time, he sends his messengers to collect...

There are some things in life which we do not like to do but are necessary if we are to live. Things like swallowing a bitter pill in order to healed. Or undergoing a painful procedure or surgery if we are to survive.Today’s readings speak of one such thing – forgiveness. To forgive is one of the hardest things to do. When we are hurt, our natural tendency is to hurt back which then triggers a series of attacks and counterattacks. Today’s endless quarrels, family feuds and wars will continue to haunt us if we do not learn to forgive. The curse of vendetta will only stop when one party lays down his arms and is willing to forgive.Forgiveness saves us from the fatal consequences of revenge and retaliation. There is a scene in the movie, Fiddler on the Roof, wherein the Jewish village...

People love us Filipinos for being warm, hospitable, and friendly. We are often perceived as natural pleasers. Psychologists attribute these traits to the high value we put on maintaining a smooth interpersonal relationship (SIR) with everyoneThus, we find today’s liturgical readings, which revolve around the theme of fraternal correction, difficult and challenging. We often lack the courage to point out another’s fault lest we offend him and his feelings. We fear he might react negatively, reject our correction, and undermine our relationship in the process. And so, we simply keep quiet and “mind our own business.” Or worse, we do not speak to him of his faults but to others which easily deteriorates into gossiping.In the first reading, God appoints the prophet Ezekiel as watchman...

Today’s readings revolve around the theme of following God’s will and culminate in the call of Jesus to discipleship. The call to discipleship is lofty and equally intimidating. It demands no less than a radical response: “Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow me (all the way to Calvary).” Its stakes are high: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” And its consequence is overriding, even absolute (all or nothing): “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”No wonder, Peter does not hesitate to cut short Jesus’ prediction of his imminent passion, death, and resurrection (the Father’s will for him) and dissuade him from proceeding to Jerusalem. However, for all his good intention, Pet...

Every Sunday we recite the Apostles’ Creed (Nicene version), called so because it contains the twelve fundamental articles of our faith. One of these is the Church. “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”Today’s gospel provides the scriptural foundation of our belief in the Catholic Church. Jesus builds his Church on Peter, whom he likens to a rock. In fact, he changes his name from Simon to Peter, which means rock. Jesus gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which is the power to bind and to loose, guaranteed with a heavenly seal. He further assures the stability and permanence of this Church with a promise that it will withstand all powers of hell.The gospel narrative clearly establishes the primacy of Peter and the hierarchical nature of the Church. Bec...

One of the most powerful moments of the World Youth Day in Lisbon was when Pope Francis addressed (in Spanish) the young people gathered in Parque Eduardo VII with the following words, “In the Church, there is room for everyone (todos).” Reiterating his message, he then exhorted them, “There is room for everyone. All together now, repeat with me in your own language. Everyone, everyone, everyone…”The crowd replied by shouting, “Todos, todos, todos…” Seemingly not satisfied, the Pope cupped his ear and said, “I can’t hear you…” To which the crowd of more than half a million responded with a more thunderous chorus of “todos, todos, todos…” which reverberated throughout the park.In today’s liturgy, we find the same theme running through all the readings – that God loves everyone, that...

Today’s gospel episode offers us a vivid image of the Church. The sea represents the world and its instability, while the storm depicts every kind of adversity and oppression which man undergoes in life. The boat of Peter symbolizes the Church built by Christ and steered by the apostles.While Jesus is alone praying on the mountain, the apostles are in a boat, mercilessly tossed by the waves and beaten by the wind. Seeing the apostles’ condition, Jesus comes down from the mountain and joins them. As he walks on the waters, he tells them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” After he gets in the boat with Peter, the wind dies down.At times we too feel alone and abandoned by God, but God is Emmanuel. He is with us. Even from afar he never loses sight of us. And true to his name ...