Have you ever heard the joke about the difference between the pig and chicken at breakfast? — The punch line goes… the chicken is involved but the pig is committed.

Okay so that’s my cheesy joke to introduce today’s readings. As I look at the commonality between each of the three readings at this week’s mass I see Jesus reminding us about commitment. Commitment to Him and a life that helps us be a servant leader. Our readings start with Joshua (24:1-2A, 15-17, 18B) gathering the people of Israel to ask them if they are still committed to serving God.

In my mind I see Joshua in front of all the people especially their leaders and flat telling them to pick who they are going to follow. Its a challenge we face everyday. Usually, it is the powers of everyday life asking us to choose between God and the things of this world. Joshua leads by example and says “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”. The Israelite’s respond to Joshua’s example by also committing to “serve the LORD, for he is our God”.

In the second reading from Paul’s letters to the Ephesians (5: 25-32) he uses marriage as an example of how Jesus and the church interact.

When you think of the church, if you are like me, you think of a building where we all meet to celebrate the mass or you might include the pope and the clergy that serve us. Well in his writing Paul cleverly tells us that WE are the church… “For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.” He is telling us that if we will commit to being part of the church, Christ will nourish and cherish us. If you do not read this passage carefully this description can easily be overlooked.

Why marriage? Peter has to find something that represents unselfish, unending love and commitment because he is trying to teach the Ephesians about how Christ takes care of the church (us). Additionally, he would like to use something the average Ephesian would have experienced in one way or another. Marriage between a man and a woman fits his need. Any successful marriage takes, among other things, unselfish, unending love and commitment.

John’s gospel (6: 60-69) is the end of many teachings Jesus has given his disciples. Including last week (6: 51) where Jesus told them “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world”. His disciples are probably a lot like I would have been had I heard this in person… confused.

They do not understand that Jesus knows he will die on the cross as a sacrifice for them/us and their/our sins to bring eternal life to His people. The are probably asking “is he telling us we have to be cannibals?”. Jesus, similar to Joshua, is really asking them to choose. He says either commit and believe in Him even without fully understanding or pick another direction.

The group grumbles and some of them decide to leave. But again, like Joshua, when Jesus asks the twelve “Do you also want to leave? Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”.

We could choose to leave as well. Picking to be more committed to money or success and ignore where God is leading us.

I think we can be confused that following God and His teachings means we cannot excel in the world today. It is quite the opposite. God wants us to achieve the destiny He has put forth for us. To do this, we should consider our commitment to Him when interacting with the world. We should recognize that we are His representatives. Through our actions we show our commitment to Him and help bring more people to know and commit to God.

 

Today in Mathew’s gospel (23:1-12) Jesus tells the people to do what the Pharisees tell them for Pharisees know what God is asking of His people. However, Jesus warns them not to follow their example. He says “For they preach but they do not practice”. Jesus is telling the people that Pharisees know what God is asking of his people but they do not do it themselves.

Here again is an example of the Bible teaching us about solid leadership. Have you ever worked for, worked with or been on a team with someone who is a “do as I say person”? What kind of feelings did you have towards that person? Were they someone who brought out the best in you? In the times where I have been in this situation I found it hard to respect this person.

According to Jesus the Pharisees “tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them”. The people who act in this way generally frustrate other team members and kill team morale. Good leadership in my experience is about setting the example.

It is easiest to follow those that know where to go and lead the team from the front. The best team leaders are those that are not afraid to stand alongside other members and pick up the slack.

I have been the “do as I say guy” and witnessed the results on morale. I often fall short because it is easy to get complacent and just give orders. This is not what Jesus is asking of me… “The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted”.

When working with or leading others remember to be humble enough to help carry the load.

Today’s gospel reading was from John 1 (45-51). It’s an account of Jesus meeting Nathaniel for the first time. When Phillip first calls to Nathaniel to come and meet Jesus of Nazareth he replies “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”. I think this pretty much sums ups Nathaniel’s lack of belief that Jesus could be anything special.

Jesus knew that Nathaniel was skeptical of him. Probably because He is all knowing. However, He might have been able to tell, like you or I can, by watching Nathaniel’s body language. Either way Jesus knew the right way to approach someone like Nathaniel. Once Nathaniel was in earshot Jesus calls out to him with a genuine complement and says “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”.

What a great example of how to meet someone for the first time… Find something that you genuinely think is pleasing about the person and tell them. Jesus did it publicly so those around the two of them could hear. This makes it even better for that person because they get recognized in front of the group. Making these statements tells the person you are meeting that you are interested in them and you care enough to mention their good qualities.

Nathaniel goes on to be astounded by Jesus and an active member in His teaching and ministry. It all started with a few kind words.

I think often when reading God’s Word that it is the best leadership training book I have ever read and Jesus is the ultimate example of servant leadership.

Today’s first reading was from EZEKIEL 36 (23-38). It is a story telling how God is going the change the hearts of the people of Israel. Reading these passages you are left to wonder what did the people do that required God to change their hearts? Obviously, they had separated themselves from God in one fashion or another. They had gotten off track and their actions told God that they needed a change of heart.

The theme of actions defining people is reinforced in the Gospel reading from Mathew 22 (1-14). This parable is about those invited to the wedding feast by the king. Although, it is rich with opportunities to illustrate what God expects of us, I am going to focus on those who were invited and did not come.

These people either ignored the invitation or killed the servants sent to invite them. What did their actions say? Obviously, they thought they were too busy to come or they found sport in killing those the king sent.

What were they doing that kept them from coming? It talks about a farmer and a businessman that were dissuaded from join the fun at the wedding feast by their daily lives. Really, if we are honest, they were selfish. They thought what they had going was the most important thing. They did not considered the king’s efforts important.

How often in our lives do we focus on us and ignore the things that others do for us? Whose actions do we take for granted? I can say I do this often. What do my actions say to these people?

When I take in both readings and consider the common themes I am struck that each invite us to listen to God and act on his commands. We are invited to act in ways that make our hearts capable of accepting God’s love. We must also accept His invitation to be welcomed into His kingdom.

God expects us to express our love for Him and others with our actions.

 

Today’s gospel reading was from Matthew chapter 20 (1-16). The Workers in the Vineyard. You likely know the story but for those who do not… The landowner goes out and finds people to work in his vineyard throughout the day. At the end of the day he pays them all the same.

This is often interpreted as a story telling the reader that anyone can accept Christ at any time in their lives and as a result receive His eternal reward. Although this is the truth, the part that I find interesting is the workers that the landowner hires first grumble about those who come last getting the same pay.

Why is it that as human beings we constantly compare what we do with what others do?

In the case of being paid by the landowner does it really matter as long as you are treated fairly?

I find myself often trying to have the most. I don’t think this makes me happy. It’s being recognized for doing a good job that usually makes me feel the best. The landowner paid each what he thought was fair for their good work.

In terms of the parable and Christ’s love… Will we grumble when someone finds God when they are near death? Is God welcoming them somehow not fair to us when we have loved Him our whole lives? Do we think there is a quota for Christ’s love? That there will not be enough to go around?

I think the answer is be true to you. Compare yourself to yourself and don’t judge others or their situation.

 

Thanks for joining me!

gvw4u

God’s Valuable Word For You

For a while now I have been feeling the strong call to share my perspectives on the daily readings from the Catholic Church. That being said I am not ordained in any way by the Church so any comments made here are not to be misinterpreted as Church teachings.

Here we go.