In the Lord’s Vineyard God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways ;Homily-Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Year A

 

Homily-Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Year A

In the Lord’s Vineyard God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways 

v  Isa 55:6-9

v  Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18

v  Phil 1:20c-24, 27a

v  Matt 20:1-16a

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 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 the divine and humans. Often our human standards are corroded not just by jealousy, but by anger and judgmental feelings—as if others are undeserving of what they have, or as if we deserve more than our next-door neighbors. God’s standards and ways are the opposite. Everyone deserves the same divine love and mercy. We are invited to imitate, reflect on, and follow these divine ways in the Lord’s vineyard.

 We heard this invitation extended to the exilic and post-exilic Israelites in today’s first reading, Isaiah of Babylon (Isa 55:6-9). The same is rendered in music in Psalm 145. For the exiles—and for us today—what difference does it make if, by imitating the Lord, who “is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made” (Ps 145:9), we let go of our bad habits and earthly images? What difference does it make if we renew our relationship with God, aim at the image of heavenly heights, chart our way to salvation, accept what God wants of us, forgive those who have offended us, and join hands in rebuilding a community once destroyed by sin, poor leadership, corruption, greed, hatred, discrimination, lack of faith, and enemy fire?

 In the second reading (Phil 1:20c-27a), Paul offers an example of what God wants of us. In spite of all his missionary endeavors, imprisonments, and time spent awaiting execution because of his faith, Paul finds time to write a letter to the Christian community at Philippi in northern Greece. In this letter, Paul writes that life or death does not make any difference to him (Phil 1:20c–27a). Paul is totally for Christ. Whatever he wants, Christ’s ways are his.

This is illustrated in today’s parable of the workers in the vineyard. In this parable (Matt 20:1-16a), many who are first could be last, and the last could become first (Matt 20:16). This standard can be challenging to us because of our human thinking and judging. But it becomes easier when we accept that God is the landowner. He employs us and pays us, and he distributes his wages generously to whomever he wishes, for he knows the needs of those in the Lord’s vineyard, be they Jews, Gentiles, or Christians.

 Wherever we are on our journey as Christians—whether longstanding Christians, converts, neophytes, young or old, male or female—may we yearn for God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and generosity. May we be open to God’s ways, his wavelength, and his standards by sharing his blessings, love, and mercy with others wherever we are.

Reflection Questions:

1. Can you think of any examples of God’s love and acts of mercy and generosity in your life?

2. How can you relate to today’s readings, especially the Gospel parable of the workers in the vineyard or Paul’s letter?

3. Have you ever thought that you are more deserving of God’s love and mercy than your neighbor? What makes you think that?

4. In what ways 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 deems fit?

5. Going back to the book of Genesis, what do the images of heaven and earth, divine and human, first and last, life and death, and mortal and immortal of today’s readings remind you of?