22nd Sunday of the Year (C)

Paraphrasing the Sunday Readings

Author's note: Paraphrasing the Sunday gospel is a method I learned from Maryhill School of Theology. The method I used is only an adaptation of the original, which was formatted in a blackboard. The method by our theology professor was for exegetical purposes. My purpose is to format it in poetic/prosaic form for clarity of reading and reflection. Formatted this way makes the gospel easy to digest for one's thoughts.

From Sunday Readings: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

22nd Sunday of the Year (C), September 1, 2013 (Edited for August 31, 2025)


Liturgical readings
Ecclesiasticus 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Luke 14:1, 7-14

"Humility will win you the esteem of your fellow guests."


When Jesus came on a sabbath
        to eat a meal
        in the house
        of one of the leading Pharisees,


they observed him closely,


He went on to address a parable
        to the guests,
        noticing how they were trying
        to get places of honor
        at the table:


"When you are invited
by someone to a wedding party,


do not sit in the place of honor


in case some greater dignitary
has been invited.


Then the host might come
and say to you,


'Make room for this man',


and you would have to proceed
shamefacedly to the lowest place.


What you should do
when you have been invited


is


go and sit in the lowest place,


so that
when your host approaches you
he will say,


'My friend,
come up higher.'


This will win you
the esteem of your fellow guests.


For everyone
        who exalts himself
        shall be humbled


and


he
        who humbles himself
        shall be exalted."


He said to the one who invited him:


Whenever you give a lunch or dinner,


do not invite your friends
        or brothers
        or relatives
        or wealthy neighbors.


They might invite you in return
and thus repay you.


No,


when you have a reception,


invite beggars
        and the crippled,
        the lame
        and the blind.


You should be pleased
        that they cannot repay you,
        for you will be repaid
        in the resurrection of the just."



Scripture verses from the Readings:
"An attentive ear is the wise man's joy." (Ecclesiasticus 3)
"What is to sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength, search not." (Ecclesiasticus 3)
"God is the father of orphans and the defender of widows." (Psalm 68)
"You have drawn near to Mount Zion and the city of the living God." (Hebrews 12)
"Be pleased that the poor cannot repay you, for you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14)

Reflection

The gospel for the 22nd Sunday of the Year (C) speaks about the theme of humility, and Jesus took occasion to teach about the virtue when He was invited to a meal. Humility ought to be practiced as a social virtue whenever invited to feasts or dinner. When the gospel described the guests competing for the seats of honor, Jesus told a parable, teaching the importance of seeking not a place of honor but to let the host decide where one ought to be seated. He also challenged His Pharisee-host to invite to the banquet people who cannot repay him: the beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind.

Humility is one of the Christian virtues that is very difficult to practice - given the heroic example presented by our Lord in His life and teachings. The virtue will be easier if it is part of a disciplined way of work and life. Self-awareness in prayer helps remedy whatever traces of pride one has in the soul. As long as the soul never gives up, then the the grace to be humble needed for daily and practical living can be received. It is a state of mind and heart that is detached from relationships or things that make us proud.

Jesus is the perfect example of humility in being and action. Though He is divine, He lived and worked as a carpenter's Son. He has divine power, but He used it for the poor, the sick and the marginalized. He is the Beloved Son of the Father, but He obediently took His cross and suffered greatly for our salvation. And even when He was vindicated by His Father in the Resurrection event, which proved His victory over sin and death that afflicts all humanity, He quietly and simply made His Risen appearances only to His apostles and disciples.

21st Sunday of the Year (C)

Paraphrasing the Sunday Readings

Author's note: This Sunday, there are three paraphrases of the readings: from the book of Isaiah, the letter to the Hebrews, and the gospel of Luke. Paraphrasing of the Sunday gospel is a method taught in Maryhill School of Theology. The method I used is only an adaptation of the original, which was formatted in a blackboard. The method by our theology professor was for exegetical purposes. My purpose is to format it in poetic/prosaic form for clarity of understanding and reflection.

From Sunday Readings: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

21st Sunday of the Year (C), August 25, 2013 - (Edited for August 24, 2025)

Liturgical readings
Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117
Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Luke 13:22-30


Paraphrase of Isaiah 66:18-21

"The Lord has come to gather nations of every language."



"I come to gather nations of every language;


they shall come and see my glory.


I will set a sign among them;


from them I will send
        fugitives to the nations;
            to Tarshish
            Put and Lud,
            Mosoch,
            Tubal and Javan,
        to the distant coastlands
        that have never heard of my fame,
        or seen my glory;


and they shall proclaim my glory
        among the nations.

They shall bring all your brethren
        from all the nations
        as an offering to the Lord,
            on horses and in chariots,
            in carts,
            upon mules and dromedaries,


to Jerusalem my holy mountain,"


says the Lord,


"just as the Israelites bring their offering
to the house of the Lord in clean vessels.


Some of these I will take as priests and Levites,"


says the Lord.


Paraphrase of Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13


"That your halting limbs may not be dislocated but healed."


You have forgotten the encouraging words
addressed to you as sons:


"My sons,
do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
nor lose heart when he reproves you;


For,
whom the Lord loves,
he disciplines;


he scourges every son he receives.


Endure your trials as the discipline of God
who deals with you as sons.


For what son is there
whom his father does not discipline?


At the time it is administered,
all discipline seems a cause for grief
and not for joy,


but later it brings forth
the fruit of peace and justice
to those who are trained in its school.


So
strengthen your drooping hands
and your weak knees.


Make straight the paths you walk on,


that your halting limbs
may not be dislocated but healed."




Paraphrase of Luke 13:22-30


"People will come from the east...west...north...south...and take their place in the kingdom of God."


Jesus went through cities and towns


teaching --


all the while
making his way toward Jerusalem.


Someone asked him,


"Lord,
are they few in number
who are to be saved?"


He replied:


"Try to come in through the narrow door.


Many,
I tell you,
will try to enter and be unable."


"When once the master of the house has risen
to lock the door
and you stand outside
knocking and saying,


'Sir,
open for us,'


he will say in reply,


'I do not know where you come from.
Away from me, you evildoers!'"


"There will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see
        Abraham,
        Isaac,
        Jacob,
        and all the prophets
safe in the kingdom of God


and you yourselves rejected.


People will come from
        the east
        and the west,
        from the north
        and the south,
and will take their place
at the feast in the kingdom of God.


Some who are last
        will be first
and some who are first
        will be last."

20th Sunday of the Year (C)

Paraphrasing the Gospel for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel

20th Sunday of the Year (C), August 18, 2013 (edited 8/17/25)

Liturgical readings
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Psalm 40
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

"Jesus has come to light a fire on the earth."


Jesus said to his disciples:


"I have come
to light a fire on the earth.


How I wish the blaze were ignited!


I have a baptism to receive.


What anguish I feel till it is over!



Do you think I have come
to establish peace on the earth?


I assure you,
the contrary is true;


Wherever your treasure lies,
there your heart will be.


I have come for division.


From now on,
a household of five
will be divided
three against two
and two against three;


father will be split against son
and son against father,


mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,


mother-in-law against daughter-in-law,
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."


Scripture verses from the Sunday Readings:
"The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction." (Psalm 40)
"You are my help and my deliverer,  O my God, hold not back." (Psalm 40)
"Let us aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead." (Hebrews 12)
"Many shall look on in awe and trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40)

19th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2008 (A), 2009 (B), and 2010 (C)

19th Sunday of the Year (C), August 8, 2010 (edited for 8/11/25)

Liturgical readings
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Luke 12:32-48

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel

The Lord said, "Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward..?"

Jesus said to his disciples:

Do not live in fear, little flock.

It has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.

Sell what you have and give alms.

Get purses for yourself that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure with the Lord which no thief comes near nor any moth destroys.

Wherever your treasure lies, there your heart will be.

Let your belts be fastened around your waists and your lamps be burning ready.

Be like a man awaiting their master's return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.

It will go well with those servants whom the master finds wide-awake on his return.

I tell you, he will put on an apron, seat them at table, and proceed to wait on them.

Should he happen to come at midnight or before sunrise and find them prepared, it will go well with them.

You know as well as I that if the head of the house knew when the thief was coming he would not let him break into his house.

Be on guard, therefore.

The Son of Man will come when you least expect him."

Peter said,

"Do you intend this parable for us, Lord, or do you mean it for the whole world?"

The Lord said,

"Who in your opinion is that faithful, farsighted steward whom the master will set over his servants to dispense their ration of grain in season?

That servant is fortunate whom his master finds busy when he returns

Assuredly, his master will put him in charge of all his property.

But if the servant says to himself,

'My master is taking his time about coming,'

and begins to abuse the housemen and servant girls, to eat and drink and get drunk,

that servant's master will come back on a day when he does not expect him, at a time he does not know.

The slave who knew his master's wishes but did not prepare to fulfill them will get a severe beating, whereas the one who did not know them and who nonetheless deserved to be flogged will get off with fewer stripes.

When much has been given a man, much will be required of him.

More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted."

Scripture quotes for reflection

• "Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes." (Wisdom 18)
• "Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield." (Psalm 33)
• "Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see." (Hebrews 11)
• "The eyes of the Lord are upon those who hope for his kindness." (Psalm 33)

Gospel reflection

"That servant is fortunate whom his Master finds busy when He returns."

After the parable of the rich fool last Sunday, we again continue to listen to Luke's gospel. And the theme of pursuing eternal riches developed in last Sunday's Eucharist continues this Sunday in Luke 12:33-34. This theme of "Get purses for yourself that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure with the Lord which no thief comes near nor any moth destroys" is combined with the theme of preparedness for the return of the Son of Man (Luke 12:35-48) in the second part of the gospel. What can be the liturgical reason? It is because we are nearing the end of the year's liturgy with Christ the King on the 34th Sunday of the Year (and the beginning of Advent, Year A). So we have to expect additional themes of preparing for Christ's coming in the coming Sunday gospels. The coming gospels before the end of the year, through the mouth of the Lord, will teach the importance of 'preparedness'. And how to prepare? With vigilance, diligence, faithful service, and responsible stewardship.

Reading this Sunday's gospel passage more closely, we will notice that the term "servant" Luke uses in the parable, is transformed into the phrase "faithful, farsighted steward" towards the middle part of the gospel passage. This "servant" Jesus speaks of is obliged to busy himself, and take good care of his Master's household. So when his Master returns and he has fulfilled all what is required him, he is judged as fortunate. But if he does otherwise, his Master will punish him severely.

All of us baptized Christians have responsibilities, that are based on each one's respective states of life and work. Some are required to do more; others much less. Some are entrusted with more; others with less. What Jesus says as important for all is that to whom much is given, much is required. And more also will be asked of whom more has been entrusted. How fortunate those who have less, because they are not overburdened with the responsibilities of those who have more. But whatever one's political, economic, or social status, in the spiritual and temporal journey of the Christian life, whenever in the course of a lifetime one has less or more, each one still has to follow the counsel of Jesus: be vigilant, diligent, faithful in service (work or apostolate), and continue to be responsible in whatever has been entrusted. No one is exempted from temptation, whether one has less or more. So constant practice of the virtues, as well as a disciplined life of prayer and work will prepare all well with the faith, hope, and love one needs before the "Master's return".

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18th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

18th Sunday of the Year (C), August 5, 2013 (edited)

Liturgical readings
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23
Psalm 90
Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
Luke 12:13-21

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


Someone in the crowd
said to Jesus,


"Teacher,
tell my brother to give me
my share of our inheritance."


He replied,


"Friend,
who has set me up
as your judge or arbiter?"


Then he said to the crowd,


"Avoid greed in all its forms.
A man may be wealthy,
but his possessions
do not guarantee him life."


He told them a parable
in these words:


"There was a rich man
who had a good harvest.


'What shall I do?'
he asked himself,



'I have no place
to store my harvest.


I know!'
he said.


'I will pull down my grain bins
and build larger ones.
All my grain and my goods
will go there.



Then I will say to myself:
You have blessings in reserve
for years to come.


Relax!
Eat heartily,
drink well.
Enjoy yourself.'


But God said to him,


'You fool!
This very night
your life shall be required of you.


To whom
will all this piled-up wealth
of yours go?'


That is the way it works
with the man who grows rich for himself
instead of growing rich
in the sight of God."

Scripture quotes:

• "Let us kneel before the Lord who made us." (Psalm 95)
• "Set your heart on what pertains to higher realms." (Colossians 3)
• "Oh, that today you would hear his voice." (Psalm 95)

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