Homilies
Homily for Twenty-fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A
Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
20th October, 2020
Read:
First Readings: Is 55:6-9 , Ps 145, Second Readings: Phil 1:20c-24, 27a, Gospel: Mat 20:1-16a
If the popular saying of William Shakespeare, “There is no art in finding the mind’s construction on the face” is anything to go by, especially as the intentions of men cannot be accurately derived, then how can we try to understand the mind of God.
Throughout salvation history, God had done things that beat normal human psychology. He uses the poor to shame the rich, the foolish to humble the wise and the weak to humiliate the strong.
How do we then relate to the Supreme Being whom we cannot understand?
Beloved, if we accept our human limitedness and the infinite power of God, then we must come to believe that He has us in mind.
Beloved, the mind of God has a well-though out plan for us. We might be experiencing the harsh-phase of our lives now. This must not deter us from holding on. Most of us give up at the moment when the story is about to change in our favour. We complain that we have dug and dug and dug and not hit on any gold yet. Don’t stop digging, for your next strike is going to hit the pot of gold.
Beloved, let’s not give up because God has not given up on us. His schemes will always be in our favour. Let’s therefore be patient as we continue working hard to see where we want to see ourselves.
We see how the mind of God works in contrast to our human minds in the parable of the landowner in our gospel reading.
God has the absolute power to do as he wishes with his blessings and favours. We make ourselves sad when we start comparing our blessings to those of others. The terms of agreement between God and you is that, if you work in my vineyard, I will bless you. This does not mean that he will not bless the other person too.
Let us not be deceived in thinking that because we have worked for longer hours than the rest, then our blessings will be bigger. No, in fact, Never. Let’s not make ourselves sad because we decide to operate on the level of justice. God can choose to work on the level of pure charity.
We can’t begrudge him.
Take your blessing and say a hearty thank you to God. Don’t look left and right and spy on the blessings of others. You might turn into a pillar of not only salt but also of complaints and ingratitude.
“Lord Jesus, we do not understand how you work. But we are convinced nothing you do goes against us. Grant us the patience to wait on you.”
By Rev. Fr Donatus Pallu