2017October,8SUN27ORDA

2017Oct,8SUN27ORDA

IS 5:1-7

Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

R/ (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Phil 4:6-9

1. Jesus Christ is the peace of God.

2. Having the same heart and mind like Jesus, assures us of peace.


Mt 21:33-43


2017Oct,8SUN27ORDA

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A



Good Morning Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the readings the theme of the Kingdom of Heaven is given much emphasis. The Kingdom of heaven is likened to a landowner who hires laborers for his vineyard and all were given the same daily wage ; it is likened to a father who asked his two sons to work in the vineyard , the one went but the other did not. Today, it likened to a Landowner with a vineyard leased to the tenants, who killed his messenger including his son who wanted to get the share of the harvest. Next Sunday, the kingdom of Heaven is likened to a king who hold a wedding feast.

With these readings, we may ask , Why give so much emphasis on the Kingdom of Heaven in the Readings ?

Brothers and Sisters. The theme of the Kingdom of Heaven is very important for us, because it does not only teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven but because it is the heart, or the center of the proclamation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to teach us the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven and how we can live it, follow it, and become part of it. The Kingdom of Heaven is not only our destination BUT it is the life that we are called into, the kingdom of Heaven is our life.

BUT truthfully let us ask ourselves, Do we still believe in the Kingdom of Heaven ? Do you really believe deep in yourselves that there is heaven ? Where is heaven ?

For me, I really believe there is heaven. How about you ? Do you really believe there is heaven ? ( Those who still believe in heaven say AMEN. )Thanks for still believing in heaven, the next question I wish to ask you is. Do you want to go to heaven right now ? ( Why is it that some seemed not interested to enter heaven right now. )

Brothers and sisters, in the light of the gospels let us have a proper understanding of what is heaven and where it lies. Let us remember that in all the gospels read to us, the kingdom of heaven tells us about our deeds, our actions that is doing something good, here and now, in our daily lives. We have to be generous and just with our lives. We have to do what the Father is telling us go and work in my vineyard. We have to bear fruits, good fruits. We have to give our share to the landowner and not to be selfish . We have to always remember that we are tenants and not the landowner. The kingdom of heaven must be seen in what we do today, the here and now of our daily lives. The gospels is asking every one of us to enter, to live , to manifest the kingdom of heaven in our lives. Heaven starts not when we die BUT starts here and now in our daily lives.

Again may I ask you brothers and sisters, do you want to enter the kingdom of heaven now ?

Those of you who want to enter the kingdom of heaven right now , must start to cleanse your hearts of greed and selfishness, BE generous , BE Just in all you do, BE loving, BE always with Jesus. That is how we make heaven real in our lives.

BUT if we look at our world today, in reality we are far from living, far from manifesting the kingdom of heaven in our midst. The presence of wars, hatred, violence, greed, selfishness even inside our homes tells us that we do not yet build the kingdom of heaven in our lives.

I remember a song by John Lennon: 1971 Imagine it says:
Imagine there's no Heaven, It's easy if you try No Hell below us, Above us only sky
Imagine all the people, Livin' for today …,Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the people, Livin' life in peace…Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, Sharin' all the world,.. And the world will live as one.

This song tells us about the aspiration for peace of the generation of the 1970’s which was a time of the Vietnam War , a war fought for different countries’ self interest. It is more 30 years that it happened BUT here we are in the present world, with the same WARS being waged for the control of resources and nations. Nations’ interests and religion once more are used in waging wars and violence.

IN this situation of violence and chaos, , will the same lesson in the gospel of St Matthew be told to us : Jesus said to the chief priest and elders of the people : “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

As Christians , we ask, what can we do ? How can we realize the building of the kingdom of heaven in our situation wherein selfishness and greed become the norm of life ? For this let us remember St Paul in his letter to the Phillipians “Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

St Paul is asking each one of us that even though there is failure, wars, chaos in our world today, Prayer ,Thanksgiving and Following Jesus Words and Deeds will bring us peace and the abundance of love. This is heaven in our midst.

Let us start heaven here in now , let us give peace and love to one another. AMEN