Our Lady of the Rosary Parish - Blogs

Rev Kev - Paying Taxes to Caesar

19/10/2017

Matthew states clearly that the Pharisees are setting out to trap Jesus. They combine with the Herodian. This is an interesting collection of bedfellows!!!! This is the first time that these two forces have aligned. They are mortal enemies! The Herodians were loyal to Herod and to Caesar, the Pharisees were proud of their Hebrew tradition. But they team up to trap Jesus. When Jesus ask whose image is on the coin, He well knows. He knows that graven images of a human beings are forbidden by the law. A “good” Pharisee should not carry this graven image!
I would like to reflect on the way Jesus answers questions throughout the gospels. There are many examples of Jesus being asked questions. Some are sincere questions and some are very insincere and indeed as in this Gospel today some are trick questions set to entrap Him.
As a general rule, and there are many examples, Jesus is happy to answer sincere questions. Most often when the questions are traps or insincere, Jesus will answer the question with another question. This is the case today. “Whose head is this? Whose name?”
Sometimes people ask a question of us not for information, just to be antagonistic. Jesus was not going to give into a political debate about taxes. He makes his questioners state out their own mouths that they live in a temporal kingdom and a spiritual one. His advice to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” had stood the test of time for all worldly kingdom down the ages.
Jesus is often asked questions. He loves sincere questions and He always gives a sincere answer. When you read the gospels study how Jesus answers the provocative questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of Jesus. He loves our questions and is anxious to listen to us.

Deak's Diary - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

19/10/2017

As I read this Gospel passage (Matthew 22:15-21) I wonder why Jesus tells the Pharisees and the Herodians to give those things to God which belong to God- but he doesn’t tell them what those things are.

It’s great to see Jesus respond to the traps set for him by the Jewish leaders, simply by catching them in their own trap! They had hoped to get him to admit that he was supporting the occupying Roman army by supporting Roman taxes— including the use of the coin with a graven image on it, in violation of the first commandment. Jesus first responds by unveiling their treachery and hypocrisy, with the damning label, “you hypocrites”! That word applied to someone who was putting on an act, or a false front. Today we might use the phrase, “two-faced.” But the label “hypocrite” stings much more, because they knew that Jesus was absolutely right!

Jesus’ logic is simple. The hated coin-with-image was minted by Caesar and so money (taxes) belong to him. Therefore, they should give to Caesar with belongs to him! Jesus quite easily destroys the politically loaded bait-question about taxes from the Pharisees and Herodians. But Jesus does not leave it there; he directs the challengers to focus on a more important responsibility: “give to God the things that belong to God”!

So, what belongs to God? All of the prophets had spoken of God’s call for justice, mercy, and love. That means giving to God our heart—our total surrender to his will. Not just once in a while, but always. He wants us to gratefully recognise his presence and act according to his will. His will is that we know him, love him, and serve him faithfully. Only when we’re “right” with God can we know with assurance that we are “right” with our neighbour as well.

Beware of false hypocrites in our own political and social system; they can blind us to God’s wishes! Every citizen is obliged in conscience Not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the challenges of the moral order. Where does your elected official stand regarding abortion, justice, same sex marriage, and euthanasia? The last two are topics being discussed by Parliament at the present time.

Remember, we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Rev Kev - The Royal Wedding

12/10/2017

A wedding in the time of Jesus had many difficulties that are not felt in modern times. The greatest would be the lack of refrigeration and the difficulties of catering. For this reason it was necessary to have the invitations given out long in advance and a very accurate idea of the numbers attending. The king would send out a messenger now to give you the invitation for a wedding sometime in the future. The date would be flexible, say in about one year, the refusal was an option, but acceptance was considered a matter of life or death. No excuse short of one’s death was accepted!!!
The application of this parable. The day I was baptized my godparents accepted the invitation on my behalf to the heavenly banquet. It will be held sometime in the future. There is no definite date at this time. I accepted the invitation and said I would be ready when the royal party arrived at my door to deliver me to the royal banquet.
‘Tell those who were invited that I have my banquet all prepared…everything is ready, come to the wedding.”
I have already accepted the invitation to the banquet of eternal life. If at this stage I refuse to honour my word, the king will allot my place to someone else.
“So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike, and the wedding hall was filled with guests”.
A note on the wedding garment V13-14. Most scholars consider this verse does not belong here in the text of Matthew. It seems to have been cut and pasted by a monk centuries ago by mistake. Whatever about this, it is of course part of Sacred Scripture. You would notice that the Church gives us two versions of the Gospel to read today, one with these verses and one without.

Deak's Diary - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

12/10/2017

In Matthew’s story (Matt 22:1-14) it looks like the king is very unkind to a poorly dressed person. After all, he did tell his servants to go out to the crossroads and invite “everyone you can find”

When we read this Gospel passage, and try to imagine the scene Matthew describes, we might try to compare it with the way some people dress when they come to Mass on Sunday. There are indeed poor people who can’t afford the latest designer style clothes, or sometimes even new gear, but we don’t make an issue out of that; because we’re just happy that they’re there with us to worship with us as one family in Christ.

But this parable isn’t really about the “kind” of clothes people are wearing. The “wedding garment” is just a metaphor for something else that’s going on. Our real focus needs to be on two other things: first, the Invitation to the wedding celebration; and second, our Response to that attractive offer.

Jesus wants all people, without exception, to be saved and to share in the glory of God. So, the Invitation goes out – first to some specially “chosen” people, and later to everyone. It’s an offer to believe in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God; to believe in his Resurrection; and finally, to believe in the Gospel message. Except for a small number, the specially “chosen” people didn’t accept the generous Invitation. So, the Invitation was extended to everyone in the world!

But to receive the Invitation, to believe, doesn’t guarantee entry into the kingdom. This moves our focus to the second point – i.e., preparation is necessary. To pay “lip service” to our faith in Jesus, but not live out his Gospel message, is to miss what Discipleship is all about. There is indeed a demand placed on the followers of Jesus. We’re called to live the moral and ethical values that he embodied in his lifetime and in his teachings. So,” in the parable the “wedding garment refers to true discipleship rather than uncommitted membership.

Words are not enough to gain entry to the kingdom; deeds are also required. In the language of metaphor, Christ is the “bridegroom” and we are the “bride,” united in the Sacrament of Faith: the Sacrament of Baptism.

Deacon Brian

Rev Kev - The Parable of the Bad Tenants

5/10/2017

This story is about the history of the Jewish people. The servants are the prophets that God sent down through the ages to inspect the vineyard. All of the prophets were killed. Even the Son was killed. Even the chief priests and the elders were able to deduce what the owner would do then. “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver produce to him when the season arrives.”
As I said, not too subtle! Jesus has been talking to us on Sundays about His passion and death. He is asking his apostles to be quiet about it “until He is risen from the dead”. The reference to his death here is very obvious. The coming suffering and death of Jesus is very much on His mind.
The punch line of the parable is that the “kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
With the glory comes the Cross. We cannot have one without the other. The owner of the vineyard wants us to produce fruit. The stone rejected by the builders becomes the keystone (cornerstone?).
This is the Lord’s doing and who can explain it.

Deak's Diary - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5/10/2017

After reading today’s Gospel passge, (Matt. 21:33-43, and considering the two types of “tenant farmers,” one could ask if the new “tenant farmers”, who replaced the old Israel, produced better fruit in the vineyard?

It seems that violence and injustice constantly surround us and affect every single one of us- one only has to look at the recent Las Vegas mass shootings to see this. Clearly that’s not what God wants for us. God created us in his image, but that image doesn’t include hatred, hypocrisy and selfishness. So how did this “state of affairs” come about? Quite simply, we brought that disordered behaviour on ourselves with our free will choices that do not agree with the will of God. Nevertheless, the love of God will prevail and harvest time will demonstrate that effectively.

Look at the gospel language carefully, as well as the words of the first reading (Isaiah 5:1-7). The landowner (a metaphor for God) took great care and went to great expense to create a vineyard (the people) that contained within itself all the promises of a flourishing future. However, the tenant farmers (a metaphor for religious leaders in Jesus’ time) became proud, independent and exclusive, and did not give God what was his due. They even rejected the landowner’s son—and here Matthew clearly is alluding to the innocent Jesus and his wrongful, agonizing death.

Nearly all symbols and metaphors can be adapted to modern times, because the underlying truth remains. It is like holding up a mirror. In modern terms, we’re the vineyard, the People of God. Are we faithful to the wishes of the landowner, God the Father? As branches on the vine, do we truly live the values of the true vine, Jesus Christ? Do we faithfully carry out the mission of the Son? Do our ordinary choices—including those crucial choices at the polling places—truly reflect this fidelity to the will of God? Don’t point the finger; just look in a mirror!

The Church is the field, and like a choice vineyard, which has been planted by the heavenly cultivator. Yet the true vine is Christ who gives life to the branches, that is, to us; without him we can do nothing.

Rev Kev - 26th Sunday

28/9/2017

YES or NO
Today the Gospel is simple. The Lord asks his disciple two simple questions. What is your answer to the questions?
A man had two sons. To one he said, “I want you to work in my vineyard today”. He said “No”, but eventually changed his mind and went to work. The other was asked the same, he said ’Yes’, but did not go. Which of them did the Father’s will?
They all said, “the first”. I am sure that is your opinion also.
We have an example of obedience in the second reading. “Christ became obedient even unto death”. The obedience of the first son is hardly comparable to the obedience of Jesus. But eventual obedience is what matters. To say “yes” and mean “no” is not following Christ. To say “No” and eventually do the request is more like the way and it is certainly more pleasing to the Father.
This is a story about second chances. We are all given another chance.
This story is about my life and my good intentions. Our “Yes” to God has to mean more than words. It has to be followed up with deeds. To say “Yes” is not enough. Jesus points to the tax collectors and the prostitutes who are making their way into the kingdom of Heaven. Though they said “No” in the first instance, “they are making their way into the kingdom of heaven”.

Deak's Diary - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

28/9/2017

Today’s Gospel passage (Mt 21:28-32) sounds like it has something to do with obedience.

This gospel story has a modern ring to it. “Kids, go clean up your rooms.” “Yes, Mum.” Then as usually happens, some do it, and some don’t. So which ones are doing the will of their Mother? It’s what we call a no-brainer.

Jesus had a similar approach with his parables. They engaged his listeners to identify with one person or group, by setting up a contrast with another person or group. And that was the teaching device that Jesus used, to catch them with a common daily situation, and taking them to a deeper spiritual level of awareness.

We have an old adage which says, “actions speak louder than words.” All the priests and the elders recognised and acknowledged immediately that the son in the parable who responded with action was the one who fulfilled the will of his father. The one who verbally responded but did not follow that up with deeds, was obviously disrespectful and disobedient.

Imagine what the priests and the elders thought when Jesus showed how they had accused themselves with their own answer. They had listened to John the Baptist, who was sent by their Father in heaven, but they did not respond to his urgent message. On the other hand, prostitutes and tax collectors— considered sinners and social outcasts—also listened to the words of John the Baptist, and had a spiritual conversion. These outcasts repented and renewed their efforts to become obedient to God’s word and to mend their relationship with God.

When faced with truth (just like some modern politicians), the only response of those with hardened hearts to Jesus’ message was to plan ways to demonize him. Their blindness would eventually lead them to plot his death.

Words are not enough; to gain entrance into the kingdom of God; It’s good deeds that are needed. The gospel stories always demand a response from anyone who hears them; we must be obedient to the gospel.

Rev Kev - The Generous Employer

21/9/2017

THE GENEROUS EMPLOYER

Today we revert to the parables. Just to refresh the rules for Parables, they are generally addressed to crowds. They are generally in the open air. They are a Hebrew teaching method where the teaching is more in the punch line than in the details of the passage.
With this in mind let us attack the passage.
The landowner employs labourers in a vineyard for an agreed and just wage. As he has need for more labourers later in the day, he employs them also. He pays the latecomers first and they get the same agreed and just wage as the early starters. This causes grumbling. The Punch line is this: Have I no right to do what I like with what I own? Why be envious because I am generous?
The application of a parable is left to the listener. Here, Jesus is talking to his disciples. He is telling them that their long-standing contract with God and His chosen people is a faithfully fulfilled contract on God’s part. The agreed wage will be paid. But they should not be envious of the gentiles who are coming into the kingdom at a later date. God is generous. God is fair.

This is the meaning of “Thus the last will be first and the first will be last”. There is a subtle warning in the parable to the scribes and Pharisees and to all of us. Seniority does not guarantee privilege. Justice is administered by a generous God according to His plan!!!!!

Deak's Diary - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

21/9/2017

Objecting to an unfair wage distribution can’t be something bad. Today’s gospel passage (MT. 20:1-16a) seems to be saying that such wage discrimination is okay.

Well, we’ve been hearing a lot of “grumbling” lately. Last week the grumbling was by those who did not want to forgive. Today the complaints are about some seemingly undeserving workers getting paid exactly the same as those who had worked about nine times as many hours. But remember, this is a parable, and the listeners would have known that there was a special hidden lesson in it, a “catch” or “twist” intended to shock a person or group of people until they realise that it’s a criticism aimed at them, calling them to a conversion of heart. This is not a story about social justice in wages; that is at the surface level. At a deeper level is the spiritual consequence – what the reward for following Jesus is all about.

The “vineyard” is almost always a symbol for Israel in the Old Testament, and this parable is being told to the disciples who will be working in that vineyard. In the all-important context, Peter had earlier asked Jesus what the kingdom of heaven offered to those who had left everything to follow him (Matthew 19:27). This parable tells him the answer. In the kingdom of heaven, all is a gift, and that gift cannot be “earnt” by working harder than someone else. We should be grateful that we have a God who rewards all who accept his invitation to come to work in his vineyard, no matter what the hour. The Gentiles are as welcome as the Jews.

You and I do not “deserve” heaven. It is simply pure gift to those who believe, repent, and try faithfully to live out the values and teachings of Jesus Christ. We will be treated equally and rewarded equally. God’s generous ways are not our jealous ways, says Isaiah in the First Reading today (Isaiah 55:8).

About Our Lady of the Rosary

Since its inception in 1947 the parish has grown and today boasts one of the most beautiful and prayerful Churches in our Diocese. Substantially designed by Fr Reg Reynolds, the parish church caters for the permanent Catholic population as well as the many visitors who holiday here.

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