The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraphs 545-578

545 Jesus invites sinners to the table of the kingdom: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." He invites them to that conversion without which one cannot enter the kingdom, but shows them in word and deed his Father's boundless mercy for them and the vast "joy in heaven over one sinner who repents". The supreme proof of his love will be the sacrifice of his own life "for the forgiveness of sins".

546 Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received? Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to "know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven". For those who stay "outside", everything remains enigmatic.

547 Jesus accompanies his words with many "mighty works and wonders and signs", which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah.

548 The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father's works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for "offense"; they are not intended to satisfy people's curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons.

A Message from Father Christian

Dear Faithful,

In the Gospel last weekend, we heard of the laborers who had a sense of entitlement to greater pay from the generous landowner. This mentality can sometimes be our approach to our parish church as we approach our parish as a consumer and not as a disciple. In a consumer economy, we pay for a service, and we expect good service because we want our money's worth. This is not how the Kingdom of God works. We are generous and giving to our parish family because we are already blessed and gifted. The prize, salvation, has already been given to us, and it is not earned. It is from this sense of being blessed and gifted that we give from a generous heart. We don’t expect a return because it was never ours. To combat a sense of entitlement, we can practice more gratitude. Everything is a gift from the Lord, and our acknowledgment of that gift is what we call gratitude.

Sincerely In Christ,
Fr. Christian


"His Mighty Hand" by Young Sung Kim