This week the Pharisees and the Sadducees, strange bedfellows indeed, unite to challenge Jesus about the Law. They hoped to create a question too controversial for Jesus to answer, but Jesus’ creates an answer that is irrefutable… love God and love neighbor! The passage from Exodus helps us understand who we must see as our neighbor: strangers, foreigners, widows and orphans, the poor, and the vulnerable. And God reminds us that when those who are mistreated cry to him, he hears them in his compassion… meaning that we should not mistreat anyone! Like the Thessalonians, we too are called to serve God who is living and true, so why aren’t we always true to that calling?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 22: 34-40
1st Reading – Exodus 22: 21-26
Psalm 18
2nd Reading – 1 Thessalonians 1: 5c-10

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:23) - Gospel (Matthew 22) & Explanation
• (00:13:30) - First Reading (Exodus 22) & Explanation
• (00:27:06) - Psalm 18 & Explanation
• (00:31:45) - Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 1) & Explanation
• (00:44:54) - Closing & Credits

This week, we are reminded that Jesus is the humble Messiah promised by Zechariah, that he has come to teach his followers about the Father who, our Psalm reminds us, is good and merciful, compassionate and gracious, slow to become angry with us and abounding in mercy for us when we stumble. While Paul’s message this week focuses on the Spirit, teaching that when we live according to the Spirit, rather than the demands of human flesh, then we belong to Christ and will have eternal life. Every year when Ordinary Time rolls around, our challenge is to rededicate ourselves as Jesus’ followers… to listen to his teachings and learn from him… to find rest and renewal through our connection to him. Are we up for the challenge?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 11: 25-30
1st Reading –Zechariah 9: 9-10
Psalm 145
2nd Reading – Romans 8: 9, 11-13

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:17) - Gospel & Explanation
• (00:14:38) - First Reading & Explanation
• (00:24:51) - Psalm & Explanation
• (00:27:22) - Second Reading & Explanation
• (00:41:14) - Closing & Credits

Peter goes from being a hero to becoming a stumbling block, from having the right answer to getting things all wrong. That can happen to us, too! That happens when we deceive ourselves, when we listen to the wrong messages, when we misunderstand Scripture, when we distort the Gospel, and when we pick and choose what we like rather than accepting everything Jesus said. Paul tells us we must not be conformed to this world, that we must become a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable to God, that we must serve God and others every day. But how can we do that when we spend too much time worrying about what the world thinks and not enough time concentrating on what Jesus teaches in the Gospel?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 16: 21-27
1st Reading – Jeremiah 20: 7-9
Psalm 63
2nd Reading – Romans 12: 1-2

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:03:35) - Gospel & Explanation
• (00:21:45) - First Reading & Explanation
• (00:31:07) - Psalm & Explanation
• (00:33:02) - Second Reading & Explanation
• (00:47:57) - Closing & Credits

This week’s readings are all about correction, reconciliation, and love. Through Ezekiel, God tells us that it is our responsibility to correct someone if they are doing something that God has declared to be evil or wrong. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us precisely how we are to go about doing that! We should start privately and gently, if that works – then we are reconciled which is great! If that doesn’t work, Jesus tells us what our next steps should be. Through it all, Paul assures us that love should be at the heart of everything we do. But the temptation to judge others is always lurking in the depths of every human nature. So, how do we resist that? How do we correct others lovingly without doing wrong to anyone?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 18: 15-20
1st Reading – Ezekiel 33: 7-9
Psalm 95
2nd Reading – Romans 13: 8-10

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:03:08) - Matthew 18 & Explanation
• (00:20:02) - Ezekiel 33 & Explanation
• (00:33:59) - Psalm 95 & Explanation
• (00:37:40) - Romans 13 & Explanation
• (00:48:54) - Closing & Credits

Peter thinks he is quite generous when he asks if he should forgive seven times. Jesus says that’s not nearly enough, that there should be no limit on forgiveness… not if we want God to forgive us! If we forgive others, Sirach assures us that our sins will be pardoned and that every decision we make should be with God’s judgement in mind. However, we know that God is merciful and that he does not punish us as we deserve. God’s goodness, his mercy, his compassion, his love should remind us that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. The old adage: to err is human is a cliché because it is so very true. Unfortunately, we often forget the other half: to forgive, divine. That doesn’t mean that only God can forgive but that God shows us how to forgive. So, let’s forgive everyone, because such forgiveness is uplifting, marvelous, wonderful… divine!

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 18: 21-35
1st Reading – Sirach 27:30 – 28:7
Psalm 103
2nd Reading – Romans 14: 7-9

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:59) - Matthew 18 & Explanation
• (00:25:32) - Sirach 27-28 & Explanation
• (00:37:46) - Psalm 103 & Explanation
• (00:40:59) - Romans 14 & Explanation
• (00:49:25) - Closing & Credits

This week Jesus tells the parable of a man who hires laborers to work in his vineyard, going out not just in the morning but throughout the day, paying a full day’s wage regardless of how long each worked because the man is both generous and fair. Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways – that God is both generous and fair, even when we don’t deserve it. Paul tells us that the whatever we do, we should always live in a manner worthy of Jesus. God calls us to be laborers in his vineyard, to do his will in the world, to share his love with others. But we don’t always respond… not the first time, or even the tenth. God never gives up on us, however, and when we do finally respond, when we finally agree to be laborers in God’s vineyard… our wages are pretty amazing - eternity with God. Now that’s what I call a salary!

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 20: 1-16
1st Reading – Isaiah 55: 6-9
Psalm 145
2nd Reading – Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:24) - Gospel (Matthew 20) & Explanation
• (00:22:29) - First Reading (Isaiah 55) & Explanation
• (00:29:48) - Psalm 145 & Explanation
• (00:33:06) - Second Reading (Philippians 1) & Explanation
• (00:41:57) - Closing & Credits

This week Jesus tells another parable to challenge the chief priests in the temple; to teach them that they are being dishonorable and unjust, but they don’t understand his message. Through Ezekiel, God told the house of Israel that even an honorable man will die for his sins, but that a wicked man will live if he repents. Paul reminds us that though Jesus was honorable and just, he emptied himself for us, he humbled himself for us, he died – on the Cross – for us. Perhaps we should examine our own lives, our actions, our motives, to see whether we are honorable and just… or not; to see if we are repentant… or not. There’s still time to turn away from selfishness, to be humble, to repent, to be obedient. So, what are we waiting for?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 21: 28-32
1st Reading – Ezekiel 18: 25-28
Psalm 25
2nd Reading – Philippians 2: 1-11

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:20) - Gospel (Matthew 21) & Explanation
• (00:11:51) - First Reading (Ezekiel 18) & Explanation
• (00:21:23) - Psalm 25 & Explanation
• (00:24:29) - Second Reading (Philippians 2) & Explanation
• (00:43:21) - Closing & Credits

The Pharisees and the Herodians, groups that typically oppose each other, unite in this week’s Gospel to challenge Jesus; unfortunately, his response is often misinterpreted. We shouldn’t repeat their mistake by misunderstanding Jesus’ words, but all too often, we do that very thing! God, however, can use anything to bring about good things for us, just as he used the Persian king, Cyrus, to return the exiles from captivity and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So, rather than misunderstanding God, we should strive to better understand what he teaches us. Rather than rejecting the good things he offers us, we should gratefully receive his blessings. Paul commends the Thessalonians for the faith, love, and hope they have shown to others. It would be wonderful if people spoke of us the way Paul spoke of the Thessalonians. That seems like something that should be within our grasp, so how do we make sure people speak well of us?

This week's readings:
Gospel – Matthew 22: 15-21
1st Reading – Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6
Psalm 96
2nd Reading – 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5b

• (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer
• (00:02:11) - Gospel (Matthew 22) & Explanation
• (00:13:37) - First Reading (Isaiah 45) & Explanation
• (00:31:02) - Psalm 96 & Explanation
• (00:34:22) - Second Reading (1 Thessalonians) & Explanation
• (00:47:04) - Closing & Credits