Matthew 23: 1-12 Gospel Summary After describing four controversies with various religious leaders about paying taxes to Caesar, the nature of resurrection, the greatest commandment, and the Messiah (22:15-46), Matthew places Jesus’ strong judgments against these authorities. The growing schism with the religious authorities of his own Jewish community will eventually result in Jesus’ arrest […]
Continue ReadingThirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 22: 34-40 Gospel Summary In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is frequently involved in confrontational situations. This reflects the tensions in the church of Antioch between conservative Jewish Christians and more liberal converts from among the Gentiles. The Pharisees in this gospel represent in some sense a conservative position that emphasizes […]
Continue ReadingOctober 16, 2011 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 22:15-21 Gospel Summary This gospel about paying taxes to Caesar is the first of a set of three passages in which Matthew describes how hostile religious leaders of his day attempt to trap Jesus with trick questions. The incident about paying taxes together with the following […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 22: 1-14 Gospel Summary In today’s gospel, Jesus offers us another parable about the kingdom of heaven. This does not mean a kingdom located in heaven but a community of believers on earth who accept the rule of God and who hope to find a place eventually in heaven. […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 21:33-43 Gospel Summary The parable of the wicked tenants also appears with some variations in Mk 12: 1-12 and Lk 20: 9-18. In Matthew’s gospel it is the second in a trilogy of judgment parables, preceded by the parable of the Two Sons and followed by the parable of […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 21: 28-32 Gospel Summary In today’s gospel, Matthew shows his concern for the crisis that was caused by the message of Jesus and the consequences that result from reaction to that crisis. At a time of crisis, one must make crucial decisions, which lead in turn to fateful consequences. […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 20:1-16a Gospel Summary At dawn and throughout the day, the owner of a vineyard hires workers. They reach an agreement about wages; and the workers go out into the vineyard to do the work. About five o’clock, merely one hour before the end of the workday, the owner hires […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 18:21-35 Gospel Summary Today’s gospel selection is taken from a section of Matthew’s gospel that is concerned with the dynamics of a truly Christian community. It is fairly certain that Matthew’s gospel was written for the church at Antioch, where there were deep divisions between the more conservative Jewish […]
Continue ReadingTwenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 18: 15-20 Gospel Summary Today’s gospel passage is taken from the fourth section (13:54-18:35) of Matthew’s gospel in which he explains the relation of Christ to the church. In the passage Jesus addresses the problem of sin in a local church. Commentators on the text point out that the […]
Continue Reading22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 16: 21-27 Gospel Summary At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus had questioned the disciples about his identity and Peter responded confidently, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In today’s gospel, we see how poorly Peter understood the true mission of Jesus. He still had to […]
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