Month: October 2002

The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time at St Mark the Evangelist Church in Norman, OK

October 27, 2002

Exodus 22:20-26 + 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 + Matthew 22:34-40

We must consider Mark’s earlier use of this story to understand what Matthew may be doing with it. Matthew changes the questioner, because in Mark’s version, it is a scribe who asks the question and is impressed with the response. In Matthew there is no room for this friendly question and the compliments that arise from the conversation. In Matthew, a question asked earlier has dismissed the Sadducees, and these Pharisees have, in a sense, rolled up their sleeves and said: “We’re the “pros” at this. Let’s go after him.” As a contest of wits, it’s a draw. … more »

The 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time at St Mark the Evangelist Church in Norman, OK

October 13, 2002

Isaiah 25:6-10 + Philippians 4:1-9 + Matthew 22:1-14

For Jesus it was a parable that left people wondering and asking questions of themselves. He jump-started their imaginations, and he left those who listened with questions about how the Kingdom of God might be like that for them. For Matthew it was an allegory that interpreted their own history in light of their relationship to God and what was revealed to them. For us it could be either, but if we choose to take the allegory, we run the risk of interpreting it to justify ourselves leaving things as they are.

The parable Jesus told probably ended with the banquet hall being filled. … more »

The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time at St Mark the Evangelist Church in Norman, OK

October 6, 2002

Isaiah 5:1-7 + Philippians 4:6-9 + Matthew 21:33-43

Back in the vineyard, a parable invites us to wonder about something, and I want suggest that its focus is God. The easy way with this parable is be threatened by the behavior of the tenants so that we do not act like them, or to see an image of the Passion of Christ in the owner’s Son. All of these work at one level or another, but if we stay with our level and raise the issue of what this parable says about God, something different happens. We are then left to wonder – to wonder about God, and that’s a good place to be today. … more »