Father Denny Dempsey

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Gospel, Matthew 21:33-43  Jesus uses the familiar prophecy of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7 to begin his parable with a different twist. The vineyard is productive, but those running the vineyard do not want to share the proceeds with the owner who purchased the land and developed the vineyard. He was legally entitled to 50% or more of the profits. The tenant farmers may have previously been the owners of the land they now worked for another. Such was the result, as I’ve previously mentioned, of the high taxes demanded by Herod Antipas. The poor sold out to wealthy landowners, many of whom lived in other countries and managed their investments from afar. Such being the case, there may have been an actual situation in which some tenants, angry at the “system” which took their land away from them, tried to get it back in such a manner. If such were the case, the crowds who heard this parable may actually have cheered the tenants on. Nevertheless, the parable was directed to the chief priests and elders who clearly understood Jesus’ message that they had failed to care for God’s vineyard, using their religious power to benefit themselves rather than the poor people of God, the true “owner” of the vineyard who sent his prophets and then his Son to call people to give God his due.

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time A

Gospel, Matthew 21:28-32  Jesus The section of Matthew’s gospel from 21:23 through 23:36 is a series of confrontations/encounters between Jesus and representatives of the major Jewish groups of his day. In 21:23-27 some chief priests and elders challenge Jesus’ authority. In today’s gospel from 21:28-32 Jesus turns the conversation against them and continues to do so in 21:33-46 with the parable of the tenants who try to take over the vineyard by killing the owner’s son. Then in 22:1-14 Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast to which those initially invited did not come. In 22:15-22 the Pharisees try to trap Jesus over the question of payment of taxes. Then in 22:23-33 the Sadducees challenge him about the resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees then return to challenge Jesus in 22:34-40 as to which commandment of the law is the greatest. Then Jesus goes on the offensive in 22:41-46 with questions about the Messiah in relationship to David. When “no one dared to ask him any more questions” (22:46), Jesus directs himself to the crowds to denounce the Scribes and Pharisees in 23:1-36. These groups had some major differences of opinion among themselves. While the Pharisees, for example, believed in resurrection of the dead or life after death, the Sadducees did not. While the chief priests and Sadducees supported the government to their benefit, the Pharisees were clear about their opposition to Roman rule. All of these groups, however, saw Jesus as a threat. Many people today would like to see our presidential candidates go head-to-head with some verbal sparring. So it was with people of Jesus’ time. Apparently Jesus was very witty and good with such encounters, something which delighted the crowds and silenced his opponents. Unsuccessful in such public debates, they would eventually decide the only means of silencing him would be to have him put to death.

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time A September 21, 2008

Gospel, Matthew 20:1-16a  When Herod Antipas became ruler in Galilee in 4 B.C., taxes increased dramatically to fund his many building projects and expanded governmental organization. Unable to pay the higher taxes, many small farmers were forced to sell out to wealthy landowners and move to the towns. Some learned new trades, but most became day laborers on farms and vineyards or in construction whenever work was available. Rising early each day, they would go to the city square to wait for someone to come by looking for workers. During times of planting and harvesting, there was plenty of work. Many a day passed, however, when no work was available. They might pass much of the day there in the square discussing the problems of society. There was a common hope that God would someday send a Messiah who would take control of the government and usher in a time of prosperity for God’s people. Rumors abounded that Jesus might be that Messiah. Between their hopes and the high unemployment, large crowds came to hear Jesus speak. Many of those who heard Jesus’ parable that day were themselves common laborers who had spent many a day in the town square waiting for employment. In Matthew 13:10 the disciples ask Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Apparently Jesus gave very little commentary or explanation with his parables. Even the apostles were left wondering what they meant. Whether or not people understood the message of this particular parable, it caught their attention and got them talking, perhaps even arguing, about what Jesus’ message might be…and kept them coming back to hear him again and again.

Exaltation of the Cross September 14, 2008

Gospel, John 3:13-17   John 3:16 is perhaps better known by the mere citation numbers than any other text in the bible. What is true of the Son is true of the Father and the Holy Spirit. In saying that the Son was sent into the world not to condemn but to save, we must interpret the Father of the Old Testament in that same light. OT Texts which picture God as being angry, harsh and vindictive reflect people’s lack of understanding the true nature of God. Particularly in the earlier texts of the Old Testament, God seems to have limitations and reactions more common to our nature than the divine nature. God did not change, but people’s understanding of God did…particularly through the fullness of revelation revealed in Jesus Christ.

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time A September 7, 2008

Gospel, Matthew 18:15-20  What do we do when someone offends us? All too often we get self-righteous, hold a grudge, and feel vindictive. We refuse to have anything to do with the other person or, if we do, we tell them off. To get sympathy or to get people on our side, we tell others how so-and-so wronged us. Jesus’ way of dealing with such situations is quite different, motivated by a desire for unity and healing of the relationship. He tells us to take the direct approach and go right to the person. Others are brought into the picture only to help the process of reconciliation. When no reconciliation is possible, Jesus says to treat the person as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. That certainly begs the question, “but how should we treat Gentiles and tax collectors?” Jesus, who commands us to even love our enemies, would probably direct us to treat them with respect and love.