GregCast Diakonia

It seems that the invitation for special prayers are once again necessary. We pray for the victims and their families effected by Monday’s Las Vegas shooting. We pray for our country and the ongoing discussion on how we are to live together in peace. We pray for those in the path of another storm, and those who continue the effort to rebuild their communities after the previous ones. This invitation to prayer isn’t just an invitation from Fr. Thomas, or myself, or from those asking for help, this is an invitation from today’s Word of God. This allows us to glimpse into another time, much like our own, where there was much confusion and need, and at the same time, much celebration and reassurance of the loving presence of God. If the usual flair for reflecting on the Scripture is to highlight a motivational theme that calls us to do more, and be better at what we do, then today includes the reality of a heart-felt lament, and the consideration that with prayer, peace and peaceful a

After last week’s Parable of the Vineyard, it’s fair to pick up where we left off... The group who worked all day whined a little when the those who only worked for an hour got the same wage… IT’S NOT FAIR!!!! First Reading from Ezekiel... You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? The argument here is that the Lord is asking us to follow his ways, tough as they may be, as compared to the ways of the time, where children were attached to the sins of their parents. I guess you could say that there was s sense of “what the heck” in the air... I’m condemned any way, so why bother? The Lord wants us to know that EACH OF US is responsible for our choices, and therefore open to the rewards and consequences of our actions. There is no predisposition. We all start from the same place, and we all are given the same opportunity. Gospel from Matthew... 'Son, go out and work in the vineya