BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READINGS
25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
THEME: “GOD´S LOVE FOR US”
((Readings: 1st: Isa 55:6-9 Ps:144; 2nd: Phil 1:20-24.27; Gos: Mt 20:1-16))
Today being the 25th Sunday in Ordinary time, our mother church is inviting us to reflect on God´s unimaginable ways of love, Mercy, generosity and justice. Isaiah reminds us that the God of Moses and the prophets doesn’t think in the same way that we do. God is more merciful than we, more forgiving, loving, faithful and generous than we. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” He loves us equally and He is generous to all.
Prophet Isaiah therefore invites us to quickly cease the opportunity and ‘’Seek the Lord while he is to be found; call to him while he is near, and let the wicked man abandon his ways and deeds…’’. We all have an opportunity to experience God’s love, mercy and blessing if only we do not give up in our desperate situation but keep searching and waiting for Him.
The unfathomable ways of God in our life is expressed in three different ways as follows;
- THE WAY HE LOVES
In our readings today we see how God expresses his love for his people. God loves all people equally and nobody has a special privilege than the other in the Lords vineyard. Nobody that deserves a greater share than the other. God loves those who were baptized yesterday in the same way he loves those who became Christians many years ago.
As the chosen people of God the Jews looked down upon the Gentiles. Jesus warns them that the Gentiles who put their faith in God will have the same reward a good Jew may expect. All the people, no matter when they come, are equally precious to God. In God´s vineyard nobody should expect special preference than others. Jesus loved the sinner and tax collectors in the same way he loved his disciples. As Christians we should not only forgive our offenders but we should make another step to love them unconditionally.
- THE WAY HE IS GENEROUS
Our God is so generous that he invites everyone to work in his vineyard and He pays everybody a fair wage given that he was faithful to his work. His reward does not depend on when he calls anyone but on his generous and unfathomable love for all. What counts in God´s vineyard is not the years of service but the diligence of the heart as a chosen one. God´s reward for all in his kingdom is; His grace extended to all who responds faithfully to his divine invitation.
Paul was a latecomer in God’s vineyard, preaching the Gospel. But he worked with zeal and interest to spread God’s News of Redemption and Salvation for all. He receives the reward like other apostles of Jesus. God is notoriously generous and lavish. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt 5:45) His blessings are for everybody regardless of religious affiliations.
- THE WAY HE IS MERCIFUL
Today we also witness the unfathomable mercy of God. The image of the vineyard owner represents God who is out searching for the lost, forgotten, desperate, and bringing them into his vineyard. He comes out looking for the desperate children who are already on the way searching and waiting for him. During His earthly mission, Jesus, like the vineyard owner, continually went out searching for those who seemed to be lost, the tax-collectors, prostitutes and other sinners.
Jesus understood the value of all people regardless of what the community thought of them. He gave all people equal value and a reason to live. Hence our challenge is to recognize and accept with gratitude God’s Amazing Grace.He comes to meet with us whenever we are stranded in our circumstances.
In a nutshell dear brethren, today we celebrate the unconditional love, mercy and generosity of God. God works in our life in unimaginable ways and means. He is more loving than us, generous than us and merciful than us. St. Paul having understood this concept well, he therefore sees suffering and death for the sake of Christ as a gain and not a loss. ‘For me, to live is Christ and to die is a gain’. (Phil 1;21).
God answers our prayers in unimaginable ways. One priest said ‘’I asked God for strength, and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help. All his prayers we answered but in Gods ways.
PRAYER: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen
Blessed Sunday
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“May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all People. Amen”
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 