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Homily file for October 8, 2023 __ 27th Sunday __ ● Isaiah 5:1-7 ● Psalm 80 ● Philippians 4:6-9 ● Matthew 21:33-43 ●
Title: Flipped Classroom, Spiritual Context
[_00__] How do we use the word flip? Spelled F-as in Frank, L – eye - P. we use the word flip to refer to a reverse of something, we flip a coin from heads to tails, or we flip something over to see what is inside.
[_01__] Have you ever heard of a "Flipped Classroom" as a way to describe a new approach to teaching / education / school? The Flipped Classroom is a turnaround in teaching with a focus on the students.
Jesus's Sacrificial Mission
One aspect of this turnaround – in the Gospel and
in our faith – is Jesus's willingness to turn himself around and over ….in
exchange and even give up his life for us as sinners. His sacrifice – his death
and resurrection – and our hope of eternal life is the foundation of our faith.
He
is the ultimate example of turning around the environment, for our benefit.
Rejecting Misinterpretations What parable does not say. This parable is not intended to elevate one group over another or suggest that the Jewish people missed out on the Messiah. In fact, Jesus, his disciples, and the early church were predominantly of Jewish ethnicity and faith. Jesus himself came to fulfill the Law of Moses and the prophets, and many significant figures in his life and ministry were Jewish.
The
Universal Rejection
All of us, regardless of our background, have, at
some point, rejected Jesus as the Messiah in one way or another. This parable
serves as a reminder of our shared human experience of rejection.
The
Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard
In this parable, Jesus turns things around by
demonstrating that the tenants represent all of us. We each have our
"vineyard," which symbolizes various aspects of our lives, such as
our homes, children, marriages, relationships, or workplaces. God calls us to
listen to His guidance and produce what He desires in our lives.
at times, we, too, resist receiving messages or
being interrupted in our lives.
Embracing
Divine Interruptions
Consider how we typically react to interruptions in
our daily lives. For example, a friend shared a story about making a medical
appointment. While he knew the date, time, and location of the appointment, he
received a cascade of reminders via text, email, and phone calls. These
messages annoyed him because he preferred handling things his way. It's a
common human reaction to reject certain messages or reminders, even if they are
valuable.
When it comes to receiving God's Word into our
lives, we may not receive texts, emails, or phone calls from God, but we are
reminded that there is always a divine message coming to us. This reminder
becomes evident when we make the sign of the cross, symbolizing that God's Word
is not not only be told to us but actively pressed into us body and mind and
soul.
Also, by choosing – for example – to come to church
on Sundays and to make time in prayer, we can come to realize that we really do
need regular reminders to live our lives with honesty and love and sacrifice
and humility. We also need to see others in their struggle to do he same. We
are in this together.
Embracing
Humility and Sacrifice
St. Teresa of Lisieux, a Carmelite sister from the
late 1800s, wrote abou the importance of humility and self-sacrifice. Her attitude, at times, was somewhat similar
to the tenants in the vineyard who were rejecting God’s interventions. St. Therese admitted she struggled with
patience toward her fellow sisters, she realized that it was not enough to
merely tolerate interruptions. Instead, she chose to welcome and even seek out
interruptions. This perspective challenges us to see interruptions as
opportunities for growth and involvement in God's plan.
In the quote
unquote flipped-classroom, the desks are not on the ceiling, but the
students actively involved in the learning process. Listening the parables, you and I are meant
to identify and consider is the person in the parable representative of me or
someone in my life? In this regard, the Word of God comes into your mind, my
mind.
The
Unexpected Twist
The parable of the tenants takes a surprising turn
when the vineyard owner becomes frustrated with the tenants' disregard for his
investment and messages. In a bold move, he decides to send his son to them,
hoping that they will listen to him. This decision is remarkable because it
involves significant risk; he's sending his SON into a perilous situation.
Similarly, God
sends Jesus as the divine Son to us, even when we sometimes ignore Him. Jesus
has life taken from him for our salvation.
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