Jesus only speaks in terms of heaven. This is the hard part for us, because we think in earthly terms. Heaven is very different from what we know here now. We must begin to think on heavenly terms, not earthly ones, if we are going to truly understand where Jesus is coming from.

This way of life unfolds for us as Catholics by living the tangible sacramental life we are given. Each of us must arrive at this place knowing that the reality of Jesus' presence on the altar MUST become the reality of his presence within us!

In the Gospel of Matthew 22:15–21, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a difficult question: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Jesus recognizes their intentions and responds with wisdom: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

At first, His answer seems simple, but it carries a profound message for every Christian. Jesus reminds us that while we have responsibilities in our society, our greatest responsibility is to God, who is the source of our life, our love, and our salvation.

Today’s Gospel affirms for us God’s bountiful generosity. We know this is true because Scripture says that many are called but few are chosen. Ordinary Time continues to unfold for us the reality of God’s abundance, but receiving all He has to offer makes the greatest difference in the world. The great differentiation is for the faithful to actually heed what the Lord is saying, to actually put into practice living the Ten Commandments, being well rooted in the sacramental life by frequent confession and reception of Holy Communion.

In Matthew 22:1–14, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a wedding feast prepared by a king. The invitation is generous, but many of those invited choose not to come. They become distracted by their own lives, their possessions, their responsibilities, and their personal priorities. Others accept the invitation, but one guest arrives without the proper wedding garment. This Gospel invites us to look deeper into what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.

Ordinary Time will continue to the Advent Season, and in this time, we enjoy being opened to the public ministry of Jesus. His public ministry includes not only meeting people on the fringes, but also meeting people who are within the fold, faithful themselves.

This is affirmed in last week’s Gospel when Jesus warned the Pharisees and other leaders that tax collectors and prosti- tutes are gaining the Kingdom of Heaven before you. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus continues, warning that the Kingdom of Heaven will be taken from you because you fail to bear fruit.

Jesus presents the parable of the tenants. The owner of a vineyard entrusts its care to workers, expecting to receive the fruits of their labor. However, they forget that the vineyard does not belong to them and refuse to hand over what is due to the owner. This parable invites us to reflect on how we are caring for the gifts God has entrusted to us: our family, our faith, our talents, and our community. But it also reminds us of something very important: our actions speak louder than our words.