Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ezekiel 18:25-28; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32
The Book of Ezekiel provides this weekend’s first reading. Pivotal in Jewish history was the time spent by Hebrew captives, and by their descendants, in Babylon, the capital of the then-powerful Babylonian empire, located roughly in modern Iraq.
Babylonia had overtaken the Promised Land militarily, in a process forever ending the two Hebrew independent kingdoms. Many survivors were taken to Babylon.
Occurring in the sixth century B.C., this event is called the Exile. For the Hebrew people, the Exile was a heartbreaking time. They were so far from their homeland. The Exile seemed as if it would last forever. Indeed, it lasted for four generations. Likely many Jews fell away from the traditional religion of their ancestors.
These people were like people in any other time. Religion seemed for many to have failed. God had failed them. Ezekiel wrote to respond to the fury and despair of the people, and turned the tables. He confronted the people with their own sinfulness.
Where was their devotion to God? How faithful had they been in being God’s people? No one realistically could have argued that there had been no sin. Who deserted whom?
The Epistle to the Philippians is the source of the second reading.
Many early Christians were Jews by birth. Many of these Jews, such as Paul himself, had been pious in their religious practice, well versed in Judaism. Many other early Christians were from pagan backgrounds. In early Christian communities, persons of both these traditions lived side by side.
Such was the case in Philippi. Jewish symbols and references appear in the Epistle, but the city in no sense was Jewish. Jews were there, but Philippi was pagan, an important military base in the Roman Empire, situated in what now is Greece.
Since Christians were in the minority, surrounded by dislike and suspicion at best, the epistle tried to reinforce their commitment to the Lord and challenge them to be firm. It magnificently proclaims Christ, the Lord, as the savior — the center, the focus and the example to follow. He is the redeemer! He is everything!
St. Matthew’s Gospel furnishes the third reading. It recalls an encounter between Jesus and priests and elders. Since religion was a favorite topic for everyone at the time, even priests and persons learned in Judaism were interested in what Jesus said.
God is the father in the parable. The vineyard represents the heavenly kingdom. The sons are humankind.
The message is about repentance. Repentance is about uniting with God. Facing facts. Anyone can repent and recover access to salvation.
Reflection
Several days ago, American Catholics were justifiably proud as the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was declared “Blessed.”
Of Irish ancestry, born in Illinois, ordained a priest of the Peoria diocese, he became a “household name” because of his highly acclaimed radio, and then television, programs, when he explained the Catholic faith.
Few, even among his admirers, recall his work, from 1950 to 1966, as head of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith — the national organization that supports Catholic missions abroad. His leadership was reason in itself for the praise given him.
Over many years, Father, then Monsignor, then Bishop, and then Archbishop, Sheen publicly applied the Gospels to all circumstances of life, and his message was always the same.
The example of Jesus Christ means everything. The teachings of Jesus mean everything. Nothing excels them. Christians have been so blessed.
Through the Church, they have met, and meet, Christ. They are privileged to share this gift, so the world indeed will be a better place. It will be heaven on earth.