Homily Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Year A:
Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
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Isa 55:6–9;
·
Ps
145:2–3, 8–9, 17–18
·
Phil 1: 20c–24,27a
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Matt 20:1–16a.
In the Lord’s Vineyard God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways!
Today’s scripture readings remind all of us in the Lord’s
Vineyard that God’s ways are not our ways. His standards are not our standards.
His sense of justice, love, compassion (rehem) mercy (rahum),
generosity and measurement of forgiveness, right and wrong, are not ours.
Though we are all in need of God’s love and mercy, there is a clear contrast
between the “heavens and the earth,” “mortal and immortality,” and “divine and
humans.” Often our human standards are corroded
not just with jealousy, but with anger, and judgmental feelings as if others “do
not deserve,” or, “we deserve more than our next door neighbors.” God’s
standards and ways are the opposite. Everyone deserves same needs of divine love
and mercy. It is this divine ways that we are invited to imitate, reflect on,
follow, in the Lord’s vineyard.
We heard of this invitation extended first of all to the
exiled and to the post-exilic communities of Israel, in today’s first reading,
Isaiah 55:6–9. Same is rendered in music in Psalm 145. For the exiled and for us today- what
difference does it make if by imitating the Lord “who is compassionate and good
to all his creatures”, we let go of our bad habits, earthly images and habits,
renew our relationship with God, aims at the image of heavenly heights, chart
our way to salvation, accepting what God wants of us, or forgive those who may
have offended us, and join hands in rebuilding the community once destroyed by
sins, poor leadership, corruption, greed, hatred, discrimination, lack of
faith, or by the enemy fire?
In the second reading(Phil 1:20c–27a) , Paul is a perfect example of what
God wants of us. In spite of all his missionary endeavors, imprisonment, waiting to be executed because of his faith, Paul finds time to write a letter to the Christian
community at Philippi, in northern Greece. In this letter, life or death, in Christ, does not
make any difference for Paul (Phil 1:20c–27a). Paul is totally for Christ. Whatever
he wants. His ways are his, as illustrated in today's parable of the workers in the
vineyard.
In this Parable (Matthew 20:1–16a), many who are first
could be last and the last could become first (Matt 20:16). This standard could be very
challenging to us because of our human ways of thinking and judging. But it becomes easier, when we come to terms that God is the
landowner. He employs and his pays us, distributes his wages generously, to whom he wishes, for he
knows our needs, Jews, Gentiles and Christians in the Lord’s Vineyard.
As long standing Christians, converts,
neophytes, young and old, male and female, who yearns for God’s love, mercy,
forgiveness and generosity may we be opened to God’s ways, his wavelength, his
standards by sharing his blessings, his love and mercy, with others, wherever we are.
Reflection Question.
1.
Could you think of God’s love and acts of mercy and
generosity in your life?
2.
How can you relate to the readings of today, especially the
gospel parable of the workers in the vineyard? Or Pauline indifference of life
and death in Christ?
3.
Have you ever thought that you are more deserving of God’s
love and mercy than your neighbor? And what makes you think so?
4.
Where and how have you assisted disgruntled members of your faith community to be contented and realize that God distributes
his love, mercy and wages to all as he divine deems fit?
5.
Going back to the book of Genesis what does the images of
“heaven and earth,” “divine and human” “first and last” “life and death” “mortal
and immortal” of today’s readings remind you of?
