25TH SUNDAY HOMILY THE ORDINARY TIME (SUNDAY HOMILY) — YEAR A
25TH SUNDAY HOMILY THE ORDINARY TIME (SUNDAY HOMILY) — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS!
BY: Fr. Casmir Nkamuke
Is. 55:6-9; Phil. 1:20-24,27; Matt. 20:1-16
Today, God invites us to labour in his vineyard and teaches us that his plans and loving kindness are beyond human logic and comprehension.
Isaiah admonishes us to abandon our vicious ways and seek the Lord. When we accept this call, he forgives us and grants us abundant mercy and kindness in a way that is beyond human comprehension.
St. Paul emphasizes this call to seek the Lord by admonishing us to lead Christlike lives and avoid everything contrary to it.
In the gospel, Jesus narrates the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. This can be summarized into three concrete points. First, it highlights God´s willingness to be each one his due. Secondly, it highlights God´s compassion especially on the disadvantaged. Finally, it highlights God´s way of rewarding our good deeds defies human logic.
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Beloved in the Lord, life indeed unfair and most times it seems God is unfair. Physically, some work very hard and earn little to show for their input. Spiritually, many who struggle to live virtuously often face more challenges than some who do not. However, these are clear signs that we neither own the world nor control it. God is the creator and controller of the world; he alone can reward us deservedly. His ways and thoughts are totally different from ours.
The goal of righteous living is to participate in God´s abounding grace and his offer of salvation. What matters to God is not how long we have been following his ways or doing his will. Rather, he is more interested in our acceptance of his invitation to us to work in his vineyard and our determination to follow his ways and abandon the vicious ways. Whether we be St. Timothy who followed God´s ways from childhood or St. Augustine who returned to God after a long time of deviating from his ways, God will reward us what is our due. While material successes are worthwhile and encouraging, they are not yardsticks for measuring how God rewards our steadfastness. A true Christian is one who perseveres in his good deeds despite apparent lack of reward or motivation and is not envious because of God´s blessings and favours on those he tags less virtuous than him.
May God give us the grace to respond to his divine call to labour in his vineyard, to labour zealously, to help in inviting others to do same, and to be always grateful for his grace and mercies on each person despite our level of striving. May he reward us all with his blessings in this life and eternal happiness with him in the life here after.
Happy Sunday!
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