Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: 
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:

    The stone that the builders rejected
        has become the cornerstone;
    by the Lord has this been done,
        and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is a very pointed parable, aimed at human responsibility.

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The landowner acted first. 

He provided the tenants with everything they needed to produce good wine:  he bought the land, put hedges around it, built a tower, and planted the choicest vines.

Then he left, entrusting the future of his vineyard to his tenants.

He set them up for success, expecting good results. But the tenants only produced sour grapes.

Understandably, when the landowner returned, he held them accountable.

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Like that vineyard, the Lord has entrusted the future of Saint Pius X to us – and he expects good results.

We have the opportunity become a spiritual home for hundreds, if not thousands of people; this can be a place where hearts are changed, and God is praised week after week.

I know my own faith has grown since coming here. I’ve met so many genuine, kind-hearted people who are in love with Jesus, and who want to share that love with others.

Together, we can – and I believe will – do great things. 

This vineyard will produce “good wine,” because God has given us everything we need to succeed. We have his grace, a beautiful church, generous parishioners, and are developing a vision and mission.

Now it’s just a matter of sharing the Good News.

Who might you invite to join us at St. Pius X?

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Gospel: Luke 16: 19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,
remember that you received what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.’”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Do you remember the old tv sitcom, Cheers?

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Can you visualize Sam, Woody, Carla, Cliff, and Diane all gathered around the bar?

There’s something incredibly comforting about sharing our troubles with friends, at times over a pint or two.

Perhaps that’s why the theme song was so catchy:

“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see the troubles are all the same. You wanna go where everybody knows your name.”

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Speaking of knowing people by name, this is the only parable in the Gospels when Jesus mentions a character by name.

Think of the parable of The Prodigal Son, for example. There are no names given; they’re only referred to as the father, the older brother, and the younger brother.

But today Jesus mentions this wretched man covered in sores by name – Lazarus – reminding us that what Lazarus needs is not only food or a healing balm for his sores; he also needs to be known by name.

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Knowing people by name hasn’t always been a Catholic strong point. 

We go to Mass, we pray together, we exchange socially distant signs of peace, but how many people do we actually know by name?

My goal is to cultivate and expand the goodness found in the people here at Saint Pius X. I dream of making this a community where everyone is known by name. 

We hear the cry of the poor – and we know them by name. We engage our youth – and we know them by name. We pray for our neighbor at Mass – and we know them by name.

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Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

So, why not come to Saint Pius X?

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Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Imagine the disciples saying to Jesus, “Can you say that in my good ear, Lord?” 

I thought I just heard you predict your own death. 

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For the last three years, they’ve watched Jesus exercise power over demons, heal the sick, and develop a popular following. 

Many want to crown him king. 

Understandably, the disciples believe that they, too, have a bright future ahead. As friends of Jesus, surely they’ll have important titles and people under their rule.

But now Jesus tells them this won’t be happening; his life and ministry are coming crashing to an end. 

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The disciples must have been stunned and terribly disappointed. Can any good come out this?

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If they’re to find out, then they must stay tuned.

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Like the disciples, maybe our plans haven’t turned out the way we’d hoped this Lent, or even in life – our marriage is on the rocks, our prayers go unanswered, we have fewer friends than we want, our work is unrewarding, or we have no work at all.

Sudden changes or turns in the road of life can leave us dazed and confused. But if we’re journeying with the Lord, the disciples remind us, then blessings are always ahead.

As Saint Paul says, “All things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

The day is always darkest just before dawn.

Stay tuned.

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