Venticinquesimo Dominica (Isa 55:6-9;Phil 1:20-24, 27;Mt 20:1-16) In many places, we witness competitions. The recent one being the World-Cup. We realize that many were struggling to be the winners. At the back of their mind was the gifts that awaits the winners. To many, their is no equality here since the losers were not receiving the same valuable gifts as the winner. Whatever it is, the outcome of the race is that there will be only one winner and the rest are losers. Yes, the winner takes it all, and the losers will be nowhere at all. So whether it be the Olympics, Football, Marathon race, F1 race or Safari-Rally, or any sport or competition or in the business world, or in the hierarchy of any organization, it is the first, or the winner, that really matters. The others just fade into the background of obscurity. That is the set mind of many people save not the Jews at the time of Jesus. But JC is coming up with a new teaching as we approach the eschatology. The afterlife will not be determined by how many years one spent as a Christians but all will be given the same gift, the heavenly inheritance. So todays gospel parable may not sound very fair to us if we put ourselves into the shoes of those who were the first to be hired and yet in the end got the same wages as that of the late comers or last comers. In fact, we may even be resentful of the fact that the late comers did the least and got the same wages as us. But as the 1st reading tells us, the heavens are as high above the earth as Gods ways are above mans ways and Gods thoughts are above mans thoughts. We must realize that in Gods eyes, there are no winners or losers, no first-comers or late comers, Golden boot no few goal scorer, no Formula One or Formula Zero. Some are called to do great things, some are called to do little things, but everyone is good for something and no one is good for nothing. The 2nd reading urges us to avoid anything in our everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ. Let us avoid the comparison between the first and the last, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. Such comparisons will only lead to envy and resentment. As the landlord in the gospel parable said: Why be envious because I am generous? Yes, God is generous to the great and little alike, as well as to the first and the last. May we realize that and rejoice in Gods generosity and give thanks for His blessings. Ss. Theresa of Lisieux, Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio, Chiara of Assisi, Antony of Padua, JoseMaria Escriva and Alvaro pray for us. Our Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 08:54:08 +0000
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