Produce Fruit

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, and a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When the vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is his heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? 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."

Consideration: To the one who is given much, much is expected. We have been given many graces and talents; all different from another. We do not deserve the gifts we've been given, but the Lord has blessed us with them out of his love for us. We must use them to give him glory. He is the generous giver, and we are the recipients of his generosity. Jesus is the cornerstone, and we are the mosaic of beauty around him. If we do not bond to the one that carries us all; we must be replaced, otherwise all becomes unstable and is subject to collapse. Unless we carry our weight, others will be given the task that was gifted to us out of love. Amen.

Satan fall like lightning from the sky

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven. At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."

Consideration: Jesus once again speaks to his disciples about the childlike. How blessed are we that the Lord has bestowed on us this tremendous grace and blessing. To be a follower of Christ we must continue to live and conduct our lives with the love and humility of a childlike spirit. In doing so, we may inspire others to seek out the truth that they observe in us. Amen.

Woe to You

Jesus said to them, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgement than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, "Will you be exalted to heaven? 'You will go down to the netherworld.' Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 

Consideration: Jesus performed many deeds for others to see around him. But there were many who witnessed these deeds but did not give him honor for them in various places. He tells them that in rejecting him, they are rejecting the one who sent him as well. 

We have all witnessed things that would not have been possible except for the Lord's intervention. Let us give him the praise, honor, and glory for all the good he has bestowed on us in all of our many needs. Amen.

Become Like Children

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me."

​Consideration: Jesus explains to his disciples how one must live their lives in order to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Imagine, people of the world living with the love and humility of a child. Evil exists because hatred and pride have entered into our hearts causing the peril we find ourselves in today. Today is the day of salvation; may we together as one people of God with humble hearts live and proclaim the Kingdom of God so that one day we will be welcomed into his glory in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

"Follow Me"

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." And to another he said, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." And another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go say farewell to my family at home." Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God."

Consideration: Jesus makes it very clear to those who wish to follow him; we must be willing to put everything else behind us and move forward with faith. The road to the Kingdom of God is very narrow and winding. Not all are able to put aside all of their obligations; but it will take much sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance on our part to live a life to proclaim the Kingdom of God to those we come in contact with on a daily basis, and to our families and friends as well. Amen.

Fire from Heaven

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. 

Consideration: Jesus rebuked his disciples for attempting to use the power he gave to them for act of violence against the Samaritan village. Jesus will never force others to do his will. This is a good lesson for us today to ponder. We have a free will that was given to us by God. He expects us to use it wisely and exercise sound judgement; not for evil or sinful purposes, but for the good of ourselves and for others as well. Amen.

Least Among You

An argument arose among the disciples about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention or their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest."  Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company." Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."

Consideration: The disciples may have been very surprised at the answer Jesus gave them regarding who among them was the greatest. Being humbled with words the least among you is the greatest. 

Do we seek recognition and praise for the works we do for the kingdom? Remember, to serve God is to serve our neighbor with the greatest gift of all, love! Amen.