Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Twenty – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Tess Rynn, SNDdeN

Matthew 21: 33-43

Most of us are always ready to listen to a story – tales of past and present from family and friends, or perhaps the opportunity to become engrossed in our latest book. Jesus knew the power of the story and so he often used a Parable, a story about the familiar, to get across a deeper meaning.

Today’s Gospel Parable centres around relationships, around authenticity. The Landlord trusted his tenants, making repeated efforts to give them a purpose in life, but that trust was misused, opportunities were missed.

This search for authenticity is an essential part of my life. It’s an authenticity which takes me deeper and deeper into the heart of the God, ‘in whom I live and move and have my being.’ It’s an ever present invitation, to step out into the unknown, to go to places I have never been before. In our moments of stillness and silence we know this to be true, we know that ‘there must be other songs to sing,’ It is then, that we recognize the encouraging voice of the Lord, ‘there are always other songs to sing.’

Even if I am not yet singing those ‘other songs,’ maybe at least I’m hearing the music – maybe the ‘intro.’ What is it that prevents me from clearly hearing what I need to hear — fear, apathy, a sense of complacency? The words of Jesus to the woman at the well, come to mind, ‘If you only knew what God is offering.’ That’s the whole point isn’t it? We don’t know what God is offering and so we stay in that safe place, within our own comfort zone. The unknown can so often be daunting, but it can also be a message of transformation. Like the Landlord in the Parable, who eventually sent his son, with disastrous consequences, the Lord is persistent in his desire for our fulfilment and lasting happiness.

‘There are always other songs to sing.’ As I let that reality seep into my spiritual bones, could today be different? Could today be a ‘now’ moment? Could today be a transformation moment?

Today’s Parable, a saga of violence and missed opportunities, is clearly reflected in our world today. At home and abroad we see war, turmoil and abuse in its many forms. It is a world waiting for ‘other songs to sing’ — songs of hope, justice, peace and joy. Our invitation is to sing these songs, so that others too, may join in, until we become a chorus, of a united world.

Reflection

What would I need to do, to hear those ‘other songs’ and to sing them?

Am I ready and willing to take the first steps?

Matthew 21: 33-43

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.”

Meet Sister Tess Rynn, SNDdeN

Sister Theresa (Tess) Rynn was born in Lancashire, England, the fifth of six children. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, in Ashdown in 1956. She was a Primary School Head Teacher for some years and then moved into local leadership in the British Province, with particular care for the sick and elderly. Alongside this she was involved for many years on the Formation Team in the Province, working with the newer members of the Congregation. A time as Moderator in the Generalate in Rome, was followed by some years as Novice Director, after which she returned to local leadership for a time. She worked in School and Hospital Chaplaincy, and Child and Adult Hospices. In recent years she has served as Moderator of the Parbold Community and presently continues to be involved in Spiritual Direction and Retreat work.

Twenty sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Sharon McMillan, SNDdeN

Matthew 21: 28-32

Jesus asks in today’s Gospel: “What is your opinion? Which of the two did his father’s will?” To whom does Jesus direct this sharp little parable about two sons? And what will the listeners’ choice reveal about their own hearts? Matthew tells us that Jesus is again wrestling with the chief priests and elders. They have just challenged his authority for clearing the Temple area and for holding teach-ins on the Temple grounds. Jesus’ concern is to vindicate his proclamation of God’s mercy and forgiveness against his critics. He announces that “the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” How that must have shocked his listeners, especially the religious authorities!

Jesus’ parable presents a man whose father asks him to go work in the vineyard. He rudely answers his father: “I will not.” But he later changes his mind, obeys his father, and goes to work. His brother however says, “Yes, of course I will go out and to your will!” But then he never goes. In response to experiences of God’s tenderness, some find the courage to “change their mind” and go into the vineyard of God’s beloved world; others held on even more tightly to the righteousness of their own views. They boldly proclaim that yes, they will go into the vineyard, but then refuse to go.

So Jesus asks, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” His question exposes the fact that the chief priests and elders, who should have been those most sensitive to the father’s will, actually are not concerned at all about divine authority; they are simply maneuvering to protect their own power. As Jesus suggests, had they been genuinely committed to God’s authority, they would have recognized John the Baptist. Throughout his Gospel, Matthew reveals the constant rejection of God’s purpose throughout the time of the prophets through John the Baptist to Jesus himself (and in Matthew’s own experience) to the post-resurrection mission of the Church.

The key to the parable of course is what Pope Leo calls “the daily challenge of conversion,” the courage to change one’s mind, to turn around, to be open to repent – no matter how many years it may take for this conversion to take place. After years (decades?!) of saying no, all that matters is the willingness to change one’s mind. Or, as St. Paul writes in the letter to the Philippians: “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus,” the attitude of self-emptying. A powerful prayer for this Sunday by Peter Scagnelli reads in part: “Let that same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus: may we walk the path of obedience and sacrifice, finding in the self-emptying love of the cross, the way to exaltation and glory at God’s side.” Amen!

Matthew 21: 28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not, ‘
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.

Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.

Meet Sister Sharon McMillan, SNDdeN

Sharon McMillan currently ministers at her local Parish, San Carlos Cathedral, in the Diocese of Monterey, California. She is also adjunct professor of liturgy and sacraments in the Graduate Program of Pastoral Ministries at the nearby Jesuit University, Santa Clara University. On of the highlights of every year for her is the singing of the litany of the saints at the Sisters’ Jubilee celebration held in the Notre Dame Chapel in Belmont. Jubilarians send her the names of beloved SNDs who were so significant in their formation but who are now at home with God as well as the names of beloved deceased family members. She weaves them into a litany sung by all — with joy and plenty of tears.