Readings for Sunday, October 1, 2023

HE GUIDES THE HUMBLE TO JUSTICE

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 136

Is-Sitta u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                EZEKIEL18:25-28

Thus says the LORD: You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Eżekjel 18, 25-28

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Intom tgħidu: “M’hijiex sewwa l-imġiba tal-Mulej!”. Issa isimgħu, dar Iżrael: Forsi l-imġiba tiegħi m’hijiex sewwa? Mhux l-imġiba tagħkom li m’hijiex sewwa? Jekk wieħed ġust jitbiegħed mill-ġustizzja tiegħu u jagħmel il-ħażen, u jmut minħabba dan, minħabba ħżunitu jkun miet. Imma jekk il-midneb jerġa’ lura mid-dnub li jkun għamel, u jagħmel il-ħaqq u l-ġustizzja, hu jsalva ruħu. Għax ikun intebaħ u reġa’ lura mid-dnubiet kollha li jkun għamel, u jibqa’ ħaj u ma jmutx”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                PSALM 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my saviour.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 24 (25), 4-5.6-7.8-9

R/. (6a): Ftakar fil-ħniena u t-tjieba tiegħek, Mulej

Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni,
il-mogħdijiet tiegħek għallimni.
Mexxini fis-sewwa tiegħek u għallimni,
għax int Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi.
Għalik nixxennaq il-jum kollu. R/.

Ftakar fil-ħniena u fit-tjieba tiegħek,
għax huma minn dejjem, Mulej.
Tiftakarx fil-ħtijiet u fid-dnubiet ta’ żgħożiti:
inti tajjeb, Mulej;
ftakar fija skond it-tjieba tiegħek. R/.

Tajjeb u sewwa l-Mulej;
għalhekk juri triqtu lill-ħatja.
Imexxi l-imsejkna fis-sewwa,
jgħallem lill-fqajrin it-triq tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2                PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11

Brothers and sisters:  If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others. Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lill-Filippin 2, 1-11

Ħuti, jekk hemm fikom xi faraġ fi Kristu; jekk hemm xi kelma ta’ ħlewwa fl-imħabba; jekk hemm xi xirka fl-Ispirtu; jekk hemm xi ħniena u mogħdrija; kunu fehma waħda u mlewni bil-ferħ! Ħa jkollkom l-istess imħabba, u ruħ waħda u ħsieb wieħed. Tagħmlu xejn b’pika ta’ partit, anqas għall-ftaħir fieragħ; imma kunu umli u kull wieħed minnkom iqis lill-ieħor aħjar minnu. Ħadd minnkom ma għandu jfittex li jaqbillu, imma li jaqbel lil ħaddieħor. Aħsbu bħalma kien jaħseb Kristu Ġesù: hu li għad li kellu n-natura ta’ Alla, ma qagħadx ifittex tiegħu li hu daqs Alla, iżda xejjen lilu nnifsu billi ħa n-natura ta’ lsir; sar jixbah lill-bnedmin, u deher minn barra bħala bniedem; ċekken lilu nnifsu, billi obda sal-mewt, anzi sal-mewt tas-salib. Għalhekk Alla għollieh sas-smewwiet u żejnu bl-isem li hu fuq kull isem, biex fl-isem ta’ Ġesù – fis-sema, fl-art u f’qiegħ l-art – il-ħlejjaq kollha jinżlu għarkubbtejhom, 11u kull ilsien jistqarr: “Ġesù Kristu hu l-Mulej”, għall-glorja ta’ Alla l-Missier. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  

Gospel                MATTHEW 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion?  A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skond San Mattew 21, 28-32

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lill-qassisin il-kbar u lix-xjuħ tal-poplu: “Intom x’jidhrilkom? Kien hemm raġel li kellu żewġ ulied. Resaq fuq il-kbir u qallu: “Ibni, illum mur aħdem l-għalqa tad-dwieli”. U dak qallu: “Ma rridx”. Iżda mbagħad biddel il-fehma u mar. Resaq fuq l-ieħor u qallu l-istess. “Arani sejjer, sidi,” qallu dan, u ma mar xejn. Min minnhom it-tnejn għamel kif ried il-missier?”. “L-ewwel wieħed”, weġbuh. U qalilhom Ġesù: “Tassew, ngħidilkom, li l-pubblikani u n-nisa tat-triq deħlin qabilkom fis-Saltna ta’ Alla. Għax Ġwanni ġie għandkom miexi fit-triq tal-ġustizzja, u intom ma emmintuhx iżda l-pubblikani u n-nisa tat-triq emmnuh; u għalkemm intom rajtu dan kollu, bqajtu sa la ħħar ma biddiltux il-fehma tagħkom, u ma emmintuhx”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil                                   

HOW DO WE HANDLE OUR GIFT OF FREE WILL? 

Introduction: 

What will decide our eternal reward or punishment? Our final decision for or against God — our choosing to obey Him gracefully by doing His will or our choosing to go against His will! Gifted with free will, we are the ones who choose our eternal destiny. 

Scripture lessons summarized: 

In the first reading, Ezekiel, corrects two incorrect Jewish beliefs -

i) Children inherit the guilt of their ancestors and are punished for their sins. 

ii) God is more strict than merciful. 

Jesus explains through the gospel parable that God will punish us only for our sins and that God’s mercy overrules strict justice. This Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 25) appeals to God’s compassion and mercy, begging Him to wipe away our sins and to extend mercy to us. The second reading: Our final choice for God, made by perfect obedience to Him, will be rewarded. Example: It is because of Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s will in “emptying himself, taking human form” and humbling himself by accepting “even death, death on a cross,” that God the Father “exalted Christ, bestowed on him the Name above every other name,” and made Jesus the recipient of universal adoration.

In today’s Gospel parable, a man with two sons tells both to go out to work in the vineyard. The first son says he will not go, but later he regrets his refusal and goes to work. He represents tax collectors and public sinners who refused to obey God’s commandments, but, after listening to John the Baptist and Jesus, repented and became eligible for eternal reward. 

The second son says that he will go but does not. He represents the chief priests and the elders, the Scribes, and the Pharisees. By their pride, and their refusal to obey God’s call to repentance through John the Baptist and Jesus, these so-called “religious” people excluded themselves from eternal reward. The lesson taught: The necessity for offering a continual “yes” to the saving act of God. 

Even when we say no, God gives us many chances of conversion, repentance, and doing His will.

Who are these two sons at present? The first son: 

1) A repentant alcoholic, drug addict, chronic gambler, sexual-deviant. 

2) Members of a poor village parish who reach out to the needy in the community. 

3) A Pastor who calls parishioners to true repentance. 

4) A Church member who decides to tithe or a young person who decides to remain abstinent until marriage. All these choose to obey Christ sacrificially. 

The second son: 

1) A regular church goer who refuses Christ entry into his or her heart and life and lives a pagan life on weekdays. 

2) A Christian who refuses to obey Christ in the sensitive areas of sex, money, and power. 

3) A priest whose sermon is designed to please people rather than to please God. 

4) A Church that ignores issues of justice and mercy. 

5) A Sunday School that neglects to teach children the great Biblical stories — in short, all people who appear to be faithful but, deep down in their hearts, are not.

Life messages: 

(1) We need to do God’s will every day: Each one of us is responsible to God for every action, and the just God will punish or reward one according to one’s actions. Since we are not sure about the moment of our death, our only guarantee of dying in God’s friendship is to live in that friendship always, saying “Yes,” to God by doing His will cheerfully and daily.

2) It is never too late for us to repent, be converted, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew our life: If we have been disobedient to God in our past life, we need to knock at the door of God’s mercy. God can, and will, do for us what, in his mercy, He, did for the repentant tax-collectors and harlots in the parable. Hence, every morning we must pray for the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit to do God’s will and every night we need to repent of our sins and ask God’s pardon and forgiveness. 

May the huge number of Covid deaths serve us as a strong warning that we may not get a chance to be anointed before our death. If we are in serious sin we need to get reconciled with God, the Church and our brothers and sisters through the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as possible. Let us remember that it is never too late for us to turn back to God, ready to do His will.

//////////////////////////////////////    ©  https://frtonyshomilies.com

WHAT IS FAIR?

Readings for Sunday, September 24, 2023

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 133

Il-Ħamsa u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                ISAIAH 55:6-9

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 55, 6-9

Fittxu l-Mulej sakemm tistgħu ssibuh, sejħulu sakemm hu fil-qrib! Ħa jħalli triqtu l-midneb, u l-bniedem il-ħażin fehmietu; ħa jerġa’ lura għand il-Mulej u jħenn għalih, għand Alla tagħna għax hu jaħfer ħafna. Il-fehmiet tiegħi m’humiex fehmietkom, u t-triqat tiegħi m’humiex triqatkom. Oraklu tal-Mulej. Għax daqs kemm huma ogħla s-smewwiet mill-art, daqshekk ieħor huma triqati ’l fuq minn triqatkom, u l-fehmiet tiegħi mill-fehmiet tagħkom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                PSALM 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

Every day will I bless you,

and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 144 (145), 2-3.8-9.17-18

R/. (18a): Qrib il-Mulej lejn kull min isejjaħlu 

Kuljum irrid inbierkek,
u nfaħħar ismek għal dejjem ta’ dejjem.
Kbir il-Mulej, ta’ min ifaħħru bil-bosta,
bla tarf il-kobor tiegħu. R/.

Twajjeb u ħanin il-Mulej,
idum biex jagħdab u kollu tjieba,
Twajjeb ma’ kulħadd il-Mulej,
tjubitu fuq kull ma għamel. R/.

Ġust il-Mulej fl-imġiba tiegħu kollha,
twajjeb f’dak kollu li għamel.
Qrib il-Mulej lejn kull min isejjaħlu
lejn kull min isejjaħlu fis-sewwa. R/.

Reading 2                 PHILIPPIANS 1:20c-24, 27a

Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lill-Filippin  1, 20ċ-24.27a

Ħuti, Kristu jkun imsebbaħ fil-ġisem tiegħi, sew jekk ngħix u sew jekk immut. Għax għalija l-ħajja hi Kristu, u l-mewt hi rebħ. Jekk għandi nibqa’ ħaj fil-ġisem, dan ifisser li għandi nagħti l-frott tax-xogħol tiegħi. X’naqbad nagħmel ma nafx; ninsab bejn ħaltejn. Min-naħa l-waħda, nixtieq nintemm u nkun ma’ Kristu, li jkun ħafna aħjar għalija; min-naħa l-oħra, jekk nibqa’ ngħix fil-ġisem, ikun ħafna aħjar għalikom. Ħaġa waħda ngħidilkom: ġibu ruħkom kif jixraq lill-Evanġelju ta’ Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MATTHEW 20:1-16a 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.' When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." 

EVANĠELJU                  skond San Mattew 20, 1-16a

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu din il-parabbola: “Is-Saltna tas-Smewwiet tixbah lil wieħed sid li ħareġ filgħodu kmieni ħafna biex isib nies għax-xogħol u jħaddimhom fl-għalqa tiegħu tad-dwieli. Ftiehem ma’ xi ħaddiema b’dinar kull jum u bagħathom l-għalqa. Ħareġ ukoll madwar it-tielet siegħa, ra oħrajn qegħdin fil-pjazza, bla xogħol, u qalilhom: “Morru intom ukoll l-għalqa, u nagħtikom li jkun ħaqqkom”. U marru. Raġa’ ħareġ għal xi s-sitt siegħa u mbagħad għal xi d-disgħa siegħa, u għamel l-istess. Għall-ħabta tal-ħdax-il siegħa raġa’ ħareġ u sab oħrajn qiegħda, u qalilhom: “Għaliex qegħdin hawn il-jum kollu ma tagħmlu xejn?”. Qalulu: “Għax ħadd ma qabbadna”. Qalilhom: “Morru intom ukoll l-għalqa”. Għal fil-għaxija mbagħad sid l-għalqa qal lill-prokuratur tiegħu: “Sejjaħ lill-ħaddiema u ħallashom, ibda minn dawk li ġew l-aħħar u spiċċa b’dawk tal-ewwel”. Ġew dawk li daħlu għax-xogħol fil-ħdax-il siegħa u ħadu dinar kull wieħed. Ġew tal-ewwel, u stennew li kienu se jirċievu iktar, iżda huma wkoll ħadu dinar kull wieħed. Huma u jitħallsu qabdu jgemgmu kontra s-sid u jgħidu: “Dawn tal-aħħar siegħa waħda għamlu, u int qisthom bħalna li tgħabbejna bil-piż tal-jum u s-sħana!”. Qabeż is-sid u qal lil wieħed minnhom: “Ħabib, minn xejn ma nqastek jien; mhux b’dinar ftehemt miegħi? Ħu li jmissek u itlaq. Lil dan tal-aħħar irrid nagħtih daqs kemm tajt lilek. Ma nistax nagħmel li rrid bi ħwejġi jien? Jew qiegħed tgħir għax jien qalbi tajba?”. Hekk tal-aħħar jiġu l-ewwel, u tal-ewwel jiġu l-aħħar”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tommy Lane S.S.L., S.T.D.                                    

LIFE IS CHRIST:  A GIFT IN THE VINEYARD  

We feel sympathy for the workers in Jesus’ parable who worked all day in the vineyard in the heat and yet received the same pay as those who worked for only the last part of the day (Matt 20:1-16). We would have expected those who worked all day to have received more. Yet, everyone received the same standard daily wage, one denarius a day. It is an unexpected surprise at the end of Jesus’ parable. Jesus told this parable to teach us something. What does Jesus want us to understand? 

Reading the beginning of the parable again will help us understand. At the beginning of the parable Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.” (Matt 20:1) So Jesus is explaining to us about the kingdom of heaven, not teaching about economics. He is using economics to teach us about the kingdom of God. Jesus is explaining about our spiritual lives, about God’s relationship with us.

The landowner in the parable, who stands for God, wants everyone to be in his vineyard, which is the kingdom of heaven. God wants us all in the kingdom of heaven. God wants us all in relationship with him, wants us all to enjoy his friendship. But in the parable, those who worked in the vineyard from early morning complained. Reading this parable in Matthew’s Greek, the landowner responded to their complaints by asking them, “Is your eye evil because I am generous?” The complaining workers had an evil eye, which means they were not seeing correctly. Because of their evil eye, their perception of matters was distorted, and they did not see according to God’s plan. 

In the world of economics, one could complain about unjust wages but when it comes to the spiritual life, whether one follows the Lord from early in life, or follows the Lord only from later in life, whether one works in the vineyard from early morning or only the last hour of the day, there is a place for us from God because God wants everyone in his kingdom, wants us all in relationship with him enjoying his friendship. If someone lived a life far from God in the past, we would rejoice when that person would return to live with God. 

We would rejoice because that person would now enjoy the happiness of friendship with God. If we didn’t, we would indeed have “an evil eye,” to use the words of Matthew. We care about others; we care about their spiritual well-being and there is nothing we would want more than for everyone to find life with God in his vineyard, enjoying God’s friendship. As Jesus said on another occasion, there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who have no need of repentance (Luke 15:7).

In the parable, those who worked for only the last hour of the day would have been very conscious that they did not deserve the full daily wage even though they received it—it was a gift from the landowner. This reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God. Even if we were baptized quickly after birth and followed the Lord from First Holy Communion, I think we all have reason to identify with the workers in the vineyard who worked for only part of the day because everything we have is a gift from God and we are all undeserving recipients of God’s generosity, love, forgiveness, and welcome. To be technical, we really did arrive in the vineyard later in the day because God’s chosen people, the Jews, were the first in God’s vineyard. We Christians, non-Jews, Gentiles, came into the vineyard after Pentecost.

Paul, in our second reading, gives us a beautiful description of what it is like to be in God’s vineyard enjoying a beautiful relationship with Jesus. Paul wrote, “For to me life is Christ,” (NABRE Phil 1:21) “Life to me, of course, is Christ.” (JB Phil 1:21) In other words, his life completely revolved around Jesus, “Life to me…is Christ.” Jesus was the beginning, middle, and end of his day. Living in God’s kingdom—laboring in the vineyard, to use the language of Jesus’ parable—is a whole way of living, is an entire outlook on life. It is living one’s entire day from beginning to end orientated around the Lord and his kingdom. That is how Paul lived after he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. 

As a Jewish person, he was already in God’s vineyard, but on the road to Damascus he got a new understanding of God’s vineyard, God’s kingdom, and what friendship with God meant. Before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, I would say he was a terrorist. He had stood by watching the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, being stoned to death. He had terrorized Christians in Jerusalem and he was on his way to terrorize Christians in Damascus when he encountered the Lord on the road. From then on, life for Paul was Christ, “Life to me…is Christ.”

Blessed are we in God’s vineyard. Blessed are we who have been gifted by God in so many ways. Blessed are we, because for us, life, of course, is Christ.

//////////////////////////////////////    © Fr. Tommy Lane   /   https://www.frtommylane.com/

FORGIVE YOUR BROTHER FROM YOUR HEART

Readings for Sunday, September 17, 2023

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 130

l-Erbgha u Ghoxrin Hadd taz-Zmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                 SIRACH 27:30—28:7

Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?  Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself, can he seek pardon for his own sins? If one who is but lesh cherishes wrath,  who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbour; remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults. 

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb ta’ Bin Sirak 27, 30 – 28, 7

Ghadab u qilla, dawn ukoll ta’ min jistmerrhom, u l-bniedem midneb mimli bihom. Min ifittex jithallas b’idejh, isib hlasu minghand il-Mulej, li jifli sewwa dnubietu. Ahfer il-proxxmu dnubietu, u mbaghad titlob u dnubietek jinhafrulek. Bniedem irawwem ghadab ghal iehor, u mbaghad se jfittex fejqan minghand il-Mulej? Minn bniedem bhalu m’ghandux hniena, u mbaghad se jitlob ghal dnubietu? Jekk bniedem jibqa’ mghaddab, min se jpattilu ghal dnubietu? Ftakar fl-ahhar ta’ hajtek, u ieqaf mill-mibeghda; ftakar fit-tahsir u l-mewt, u oqghod ghall-kmandamenti. Ftakar fil-kmandamenti u tobghodx il-proxxmu; ftakar fil-patt tal-Gholi u aghlaq ghajnejk ghall-offiza.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 102 (103), 1-2.3-4.9-10.11-12

R/. (8): Hanin u twajjeb il-Mulej

Bierek, ruh tieghi, il-Mulej!
B’qalbi kollha nbierek l-isem qaddis tieghu.
Bierek, ruh tieghi, il-Mulej,
u la tinsiex il-gid kollu li ghamel mieghek. R/.

Hu jahfer dnubietek kollha;
ifejjaq il-mard tieghek kollu;
jifdi lil hajtek mill-qabar;
ihaddnek bit-tjieba u l-hniena. R/.

Ma joqghodx jitlewwem maghna,
u anqas jinkorla ghal dejjem.
Ma mexiex maghna skond ma haqqhom htijietna;
ma hallasniex skond ma haqqha hzunitna. R/.

Daqskemm huma s-smewwiet ’il fuq mill-art,
hekk hi kbira tjubitu ma’ min jibza’ minnu;
daqs kemm hu mbieghed il-Lvant mill-Punent,
hekk hu jbieghed minna htijietna. R/.

Reading 2                 ROMANS 14:7-9

Brothers and sisters: None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra lir-Rumani  14, 7-9

Huti, hadd minna ma jghix ghalih innifsu, u hadd ma jmut ghalih innifsu. Jekk nghixu, nghixu ghall-Mulej; jekk immutu, immutu ghall-Mulej. Sew jekk nghixu, mela, sew jekk immutu, ahna tal-Mulej. Kristu ghalhekk miet u rxoxta, biex ikun Sid kemm tal-hajjin u kemm tal-mejtin. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                MATTHEW 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'  Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had  happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

EVANGELJU                Qari skond San Mattew  18, 21-35

F’dak iz-zmien, Pietru resaq lejn Gesù u qallu: “Mulej, xi kemm-il darba jrid jonqosni hija biex jiena nahfirlu? Sa seba’ darbiet?”. Wiegbu Gesù: “Ma nghidlekx sa seba’ darbiet, imma sa sebgha u sebghin darba. Ghalhekk is-Saltna tas-Smewwiet nistghu nxebbhuha ma’ wiehed sultan, li ried jaghmel il-kontijiet mal-qaddejja tieghu. Kif beda jaghmel dan, hadulu quddiemu wiehed li kellu jaghtih ghaxart elef talent. Billi ma kellux minn fejn irroddhomlu, is-sinjur ordna li jinbieghu hu, martu, uliedu u kull ma kellu, halli b’hekk jithallas id-dejn. Imma l-qaddej inxtehet quddiemu jitolbu u jghidlu: “Sinjur, stabar ftit bija, kollox irroddlok”. Is-sinjur gietu hasra minn dak il-qaddej, baghtu u hafirlu dejnu. Mela dak il-qaddej johrog, u jiltaqa’ ma’ wiehed minn shabu, li kellu jaghtih mitt dinar; qabdu minn ghonqu u beda jaghfsu. “Hallas dejnek,” qallu. Il-qaddej siehbu nxtehet quddiemu jitolbu bil-hniena u jghidlu: “Stabar ftit bija u rroddlok”. Imma dak ma riedx jaf, mar u xehtu l-habs sa ma jrodd kull ma kellu jaghtih. Shabu l-qaddejja raw il-grajja kollha u sewdu qalbhom hafna; marru ghand is-sinjur taghhom u tarrfulu kull ma kien gara. Imbaghad is-sinjur baghat ghalih u qallu: “Ja qaddej hazin, meta jiena hfirtlek dak id-dejn kollu wara li tlabtni bil-hniena, ma kienx imissek int ukoll thenn ghal siehbek kif hennejt jien ghalik?”. U sahan bl-ahrax is-sinjur ghalih, u tah f’idejn min jahqru sa ma jrodd kull ma kellu jaghti. Hekk jaghmel lilkom Missieri li hu fis-Smewwiet jekk ma tahfrux lil xulxin minn qalbkom”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil                          

FORGIVING AND RECONCILING

Introduction: . 

Our readings for this Twenty-Fourth Sunday concern forgiving those who wound us and being reconciled with them. All three readings today remind us of the path to forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation and challenge us to walk this, the only Way to Life. (An anecdote may be added here)

Scripture lessons summarized: 

Sirach, in the first reading, reminds his listeners that if they don’t heal and forgive and show mercy, they can’t expect to receive mercy from God in return. It is unwise to nurse grudges and wise to forgive because our life span is very short and our eternal destiny is decided by how we forgive, how we work for reconciliation with those who wound us, and how we render humble and loving service to them. In today’s Psalm, (Ps 103), the Psalmist sings, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.” 

In the second reading, Paul reminds us that we have to forgive others because we belong to Christ who, by his own example in forgiving those who killed Him, taught us how we must forgive in our turn. Since we humans are related to each other as brothers and sisters of Jesus, we are in the family of God, so hatred and bitterness toward anyone should have no place in our hearts. 

In today’s Gospel, through the parable of the two debtors, Jesus teaches us that there should be no limit to our forgiveness and no conditions attached to our reconciliation. We represent the greater debtor in the parable because we commit sins every day and, hence, we need God’s forgiveness every day. But we must forgive in order to be forgiven. Jesus explains, after teaching us the prayer Our Father, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father also will forgive you. “

Life messages: 

1) We need to forgive, forget, and be reconciled: In the light of eternity and considering the shortness of our span of life, harbouring old grudges is pointless. The forgiveness that we offer others is the indispensable condition which opens our hearts to love and makes it possible for us to receive God’s forgiveness and to pray meaningfully: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” What God expects from us, He offers us grace to accomplish in us: His Own limitless forgiving and a willingness to overlook faults and to keep on loving even in the face of insults.

2) We may never forget the hurt we have experienced, but we can, with His ongoing grace, choose to forgive and pray for our offenders. As life goes on and we remember an incident that was hurtful and roused great anger in us, we need to remind ourselves that, with God’s grace, we have already forgiven the one that hurt us. Time does heal memories. Forgiveness finally changes us from being prisoners of our past to being liberated and at peace with our memories. 

Forgiveness allows us to move beyond the pain, the resentment, and the anger. When we forgive, we make the choice that heals. We can forgive the offender by wishing him God’s blessings and by offering that individual to God by simply saying, “Help so-and-so and me to mend our relationship.” When we withhold forgiveness, we remain the victim. When we offer forgiveness, we are doing it also for our own well-being.

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LOVE HELPS US GROW IN HOLINESS

Readings for Sunday, September 10, 2023

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 127

It-Tlieta u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                EZEKIEL 33:7-9

Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, " and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Eżekjel  33, 7-9

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Lilek, o bniedem, qegħedtek għassies ta’ dar Iżrael. Meta tisma’ minn fommi xi kelma, għandek twiddibhom f’ismi. Jekk jien ngħid lill-midneb: “Int tmut żgur,” u int ma tkellmux u ma twiddbux biex jitlaq triqtu, hu, il-midneb, imut fi ħżunitu, imma demmu nfittxu minn idejk. Imma jekk inti twiddeb il-midneb dwar triqtu biex jerġa’ lura minnha u ma jerġax, hu jmut fi dnubu, imma int tkun salvajt ħajtek”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                PSALM 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 94 (95), 1-2.6-7.8-9

R/. (8): Isimgħu leħen il-Mulej u la twebbsux qalbkom

Ejjew, ħa nfaħħru bl-hena l-Mulej,
ħa ngħajtu bil-ferħ lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni tagħna!
Nersqu quddiemu b’għana ta’ radd il-ħajr,
ngħannulu b’għajat ta’ ferħ. R/.

Ejjew inqimuh u ninxteħtu quddiemu,
għarkubbtejna quddiem il-Mulej li ħalaqna!
Għaliex hu Alla tagħna,
u aħna l-poplu tal-mergħa tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tiegħu. R/.

Mhux li kontu illum tisimgħu leħnu!
“La twebbsux qalbkom bħal f’Meriba,
bħal dakinhar f’Massa, fid-deżert,
meta ġarrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom,
għalkemm raw dak li jien għamilt”. R/.

Reading 2                ROMANS 13:8-10

Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, " and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no evil to the neighbour; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 13, 8-10

Ħuti, tkunu obbligati lejn ħadd ħlief li tħobbu lil xulxin. Kull min iħobb ikun iħares il-bqija tal-Liġi. Għax il-kmandamenti: “La tagħmilx adulterju, la toqtolx, la tisraqx, la tkunx rgħib”, u kull preċett ieħor, hu liema hu, kollha jinġabru f’kelma waħda: “Ħobb il-proxxmu tiegħek bħalek innifsek”. L-imħabba ma tagħmilx deni lill-proxxmu; mela l-imħabba hi l-milja tal-Liġi. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel                MATTHEW 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

EVANĠELJU                Qari skond San Mattew 8, 15-20

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Jekk ħuk jaqa’ f’xi dnub, mur sibu waħdu u widdbu. Jekk jisma’ minnek, tkun irbaħt lura lil ħuk. Jekk ma jismax, erġa’ mur u ħu miegħek wieħed jew tnejn oħra, biex kull ma jingħad jissaħħaħ bil-kelma ta’ żewġ xhieda jew tlieta. Jekk imbagħad anqas minnhom ma jkun irid jisma’, mur għid lill-knisja. U jekk anqas mill-knisja ma jkun irid jisma’ żommu b’wieħed pagan jew pubblikan. Tassew ngħidilkom, li kull ma torbtu fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-sema, u kull ma tħollu fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-sema. Ngħidilkom ukoll li jekk tnejn minnkom fuq l-art jgħollu leħinhom flimkien biex jitolbu xi ħaġa, Missieri li hu fis-smewwiet, jagħtihielhom. Għax fejn tnejn jew tlieta jkunu miġbura f’ismi hemm inkun jien f’nofshom”Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  

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Eight-minute Homily by Fr Tony Kadavil                     

Our Spiritual Responsibility For Others

Introduction: 

The common theme of this Sunday’s readings is God’s command concerning our spiritual responsibility and individual accountability for others in our families, parishes, and community. This accountability arises from our identity as God’s children. As brothers and sisters in Christ, then, we become each other’s “keepers,” and take on a painful, triple responsibility. We must lovingly and prudently correct each other when we err, forgive those who offend us, and ask forgiveness from those we have offended.

Scripture readings summarized: In the first reading, God tells Ezekiel that he is to be a “watchman for the house of Israel,” obliged to warn Israel of moral dangers. If Ezekiel should refrain from speaking God’s word given to convert the wicked, God will hold Ezekiel responsible for the death of the wicked.

In the second reading, St. Paul points out that the love we should have for one another should be our only reason for admonishing and correcting the sinner.  Love seeks the good of the one who is loved. Therefore, we should admonish one another so that we all may repent and grow in holiness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that true Christian charity obliges a Christian, not only to assist his neighbours in their temporal and spiritual needs with material help and prayer, but also to aid with correction those brothers and sisters who have damaged the community by public sin. If the erring one refuses a one-on-one, loving correction by the offended party, then the Christian is to try to involve more people: first, “one or two others,” and eventually “the Church.” Finally, Jesus mentions the efficacy of community prayer in solving such problems, for Christ is present in the praying Christian community.

Life messages: 

    1) We are our brother’s/sister’s keeper. Modern believers tend to think that they have no right to intervene in the private lives of their fellow believers. Others evade the issue saying, “As a sinner, I don’t have the moral courage or the right to correct anyone.” But Jesus emphatically affirms that we are our brothers’ keepers, and we have the serious obligation to correct others. We need to offer advice and encouragement to our friends, neighbours, and co-workers when it is needed, and loving correction, in private, for a personal offense where that is possible.

    2) We need to gather in Jesus’ name and work miracles: Today’s Gospel reminds us of the good we can do together, and of how we can do it. Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” If any group of us gather, work, and act with the Holy Spirit guiding us, we will become much more than simply the sum of our numbers. Today, Jesus makes it clear how important we are, one to another. One in Christ, our community can draw on God’s power to make His healing, life-giving love, more effective among His people.

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