HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME. (2)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.

THEME: Why be envious because I am generous?

BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*SAINT OF THE DAY:* Memorial of saint Rose of Lima, Virgin.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Judges 9:6-15
Psalm 20:2-7
Matthew 20:1-16

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE

*INTRODUCTION*
Good morning dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate Wednesday of week 19 in Ordinary Time, Year A. We commemorate also the memorial of saint Rose of Lima, Virgin.

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard about, the story of the power struggle involving the sons and descendants of the Judge Gideon. Back then, Gideon had many children from his wife and concubines, at a time when this was still a common practice among the people of Israel. As the judge and ruler of the Israelites, Gideon had gained great prestige and power for his family members, which led to the conflict after Gideon’s death. In this case, Abimelech, one of the sons of Gideon, desired power and glory, and persuaded his relatives in the town of Shechem to support him in his vile plan in seizing power for himself, by gathering and slaughtering all of his own brothers and relatives from his father Gideon, all the other seventy of his brothers, with only one, named Jotham, managed to escape the slaughter.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel passage today, we heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples using the parable of the vineyard workers, in which those whom the owner of the vineyard called and gathered to work in his vineyard, all were rewarded equally and fairly, and that owner kept on going to find out more and more people to work in his vineyard right up to the last hour. Through this parable, the Lord wanted to show us how He Himself, represented by that vineyard owner, seeks for us all to follow Him and to be His disciples and servants, in walking down His path and in following His examples. All of us are those whom the master of the vineyard had called and gathered to work in his vineyard, while the reward that he has promised and fulfilled, is the gift of eternal life and glory that He has assured us all through His Son.

*CONCLUSION*
That is why, when those workers who have been called earlier grumbled and complained to the vineyard owner on why they were paid the same as those who have started their work on the last hour, the vineyard owner told them that all those who work for him would gain the same reward as agreed. This is a reminder for us that we must not have the thinking and attitude that we are better than others simply because we are perhaps more religious, pious, committed or dedicated to God, and not because we have somehow received His truth, Good News and grace sooner. All of us are equally beloved by God and we are all equally important in the eyes of the Lord. If we follow the Lord because we seek glory and greatness for ourselves, then I am afraid that we have lost the essence and meaning of what it truly means for us to be Christians, that is as disciples and followers of the Lord.
The Lord be with You.

Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.

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