El domingo, 4 de octubre de 2020

 El VIGESIMOSÉPTIMO DOMINGO ORDINARIO

(Isaías 5:1-7; Filipenses 4:6-9; Mateo 21:33-43)

No todos, pero muchos hombres sueñan de tener un terreno donde pueden hacer un huerto.  Plantarían frutales. Sembrarían verduras. Tendrían corral para un caballo u otro tipo de animal.  No sería grande el terreno, pero les rendiría no solo frutas sino también la paz.  Este sueño es la base de la parábola de Jesús en el evangelio hoy.

El propietario presta su viña a algunos trabajadores.  La tierra es fértil y bien preparada.  Con esfuerzo puede producir mucho fruto.  Se puede entender la viña como la posibilidad de la buena vida que se proporciona a cada uno de nosotros.  Tenemos no solo cuerpos para trabajar físicamente.  Aún más importante, tenemos almas para ver, juzgar y realizar nuestras ideas.  Estas capacidades cualifican a los humanos como cocreadores con Dios, aunque mucho más inferiores.

Sin embargo, no somos libres para hacer cualquiera cosa que nos dé la gana.  Siempre tenemos que hacer la justicia.  Eso es, no debemos defraudar a nadie ni mentir.  También, porque todos somos vinculados, tenemos que cuidar al uno y al otro, particularmente a los débiles.  En primer lugar, somos responsables por los nuestros – eso es, por nuestros hijos y nuestros padres mayores.  Pero nuestra responsabilidad se extiende también a los pobres, a los infantes, incluso a los no nacidos, y a los ancianos.  La justicia abarca también el agradecimiento a Dios.  Donde la parábola dice que el propietario envía “a sus criados para pedir su parte de los frutos”, tiene en cuenta todos estos actos de la justicia.

Desgraciadamente los trabajadores de la viña maltratan a los criados.  Eso es, los judíos de la época de los reyes de Israel abusaron a los profetas.  La parábola sigue a predecir lo que los sumo sacerdotes y líderes del pueblo judío harán a Jesús: le echarán mano, lo sacarán fuera de la ciudad y lo matarán en la cruz.  Por eso, el propietario toma la viña a los trabajadores para dársela a los otros.  Esto es lenguaje parabólico.  Significa que Dios tomará la promesa del Reino a los judíos para darla a los discípulos de Jesucristo.

Se puede decir que, aunque la promesa del Reino se ha pasado a los cristianos, no es seguro que todo cristiano la heredará.  Es posible que algunos pierdan su herencia por la misma falta de justicia.  Hay una pareja que trabaja siete días por semana para ganar la vida.  Tienen cuatro hijos todavía jóvenes. Aunque estos padres pueden proveer a sus hijos con teléfonos y carros, tienen que darles más.  Tienen que proporcionarles su atención y su cariño.  También deben honrar a Dios el domingo como se nos manda.  Si no cumplen estas responsabilidades, son ni buenos padres ni hijos de Dios dignos.

Ahora festejamos a San Francisco de Asís.  Era persona que siempre tenía en cuenta a los pequeños, sean los pobres o las responsabilidades cotidianas.  El introdujo el pesebre de Navidad para ayudar a los pobres contemplar la encarnación de Dios como hombre.  También, tenía siempre en su corazón alabanzas a Dios por la creación.  Imitamos su espíritu cada vez que cuidamos a los débiles. De igual importancia, nos probamos herederos del Reino cuando demos a Dios las gracias.  Qué estas cosas sean los frutos de nuestras almas – cuidar a los débiles y dar gracias a Dios.

Monday, September 28, 2020

 Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Job 1:6-22; Luke 9:46-50)

In a Civil War movie a group of Black recruits are training for war.  One fellow, known for having a good eye, hits the practice target.  Then the trainer gives the marksman a true test of combat readiness. He comes near and shoots his gun while the man is aiming his rifle.  The recruit becomes unglued and fires way off the mark.  Today’s first reading tells a similar story.

It is said that the measure of a person is taken not in good times but in times of adversity. So perhaps Satan has a point in wanting Job’s righteousness tested when events turn against him.  In the passage Job is sent a series of horrible setbacks.  Despite losing both family and fortune, however, he still praises the Lord.  He will be tempted even more viciously but will always remain loyal to God.

Can we do the same?  We hope so.  But it is wise to prepare ourselves for hardship by discipline and compassion.  We might fast regularly from food and visual stimulation to prepare for times of deprivation.  We could also go out to the grieving and distressed.  Sharing their pain, we anticipate the days when a heavy load will be placed on our shoulders.

Friday, September 25, 2020

 Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time


(Ecclesiastes 3:1-11; Luke 9:18-22)

We may not want to do it, but we can pity Donald Trump.  At the beginning of the year, he was riding high.  His party defeated a move to remove him from office.  His economic policy seemed to be working.  Joblessness was low, and income for everyone was rising.  Even his foreign policy which defeated ISIS and withdrew from heavy commitment had its appeal.  Then the Covid pandemic pushed his campaign for reelection to the side of the road.  The electorate would not judge him for his earlier accomplishments but for how he dealt with the virus.  Strange as it may seem, the preacher Qoheleth has this kind of turn of events in mind in today’s first reading.

There is an old saying, “Man proposes, and God disposes.”  The preacher notes how humans want to control things according to their liking.  They want to be like God.  The preacher says, God has “put the timeless into their hearts.”  But for all the planning humans might do to have things their way, it is God whose orders arranges things. He has “an appointed time for everything.”  Humans must follow God’s promptings.  They are born and die when God sees fit.  They plant when God withdraws the snow and sends the rain.  When God permits a war, they must stop their work to defend their country.

Over-planning does not become humans but gives them the illusion that they are gods.  Of course, we should make provisions for the future.  But even more so, we should look to God for guidance and assistance.  It is folly to think that we can control everything.  And it is wisdom to say along with Jesus, “Not my will but yours be done.”

Thursday, September 24, 2020

 Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Luke 9:7-9)

Nothing belies the first reading today more than the second.  The preacher Qoheleth says, “There is nothing new under the sun,” but Herod is startled by what he hears of Jesus.  Since Jesus, things have not been like they used to be nor can they ever be so again.  He has changed the world uniquely.

Once on Christmas Eve it started to snow.  The white flakes were falling gently to the earth in the dusk of the evening.  People were rightly worrying about traffic jams as they hurried home and then to services.  But the snow was a reminder of the wonder of the birth of Christ.  Heaven was coming to earth in beauty and peace.

Christ has renewed our hearts.  Because of him, we know – despite appearances to the contrary – that we have an eternal destiny.  We want to let his words and example form our lives.  We want them to root out the egotism that makes it seem like things will never change.

 

Wednesday, September 25, 2020

 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest

(Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6)

Today’s readings provide an explanation of the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Proverbs asserts that rich people, trusting in their wealth, are likely to deny God as the source of their well-being.  The gospel illustrates Jesus’ sense of God’s graciousness as he sends his apostles on mission.  He tells them not to take more than the clothes on their backs.  He is implying that God will provide for all their needs.

To be poor is one thing and to live in misery is another.  The poor have bread to eat but little more.  Lacking even food, the miserable live in dire need.  They may steal, as the proverb indicates, and that only multiplies their troubles.

Most of us have a good deal more than enough.  Yet sometimes we seek even more without thanking God sufficiently.  If we do not show gratitude but reach for more, then in a sense we become like the scrounging miserable. We will roam with unsettled hearts worrying over nothing.