XXV Sunday in OT:[A]: Is 55: 6-9; Phil 1: 20c-24, 27a; Mt 20:1-16a

XXV Sunday in OT:[A]: Is 55: 6-9; Phil 1: 20c-24, 27a; Mt 20:1-16a

Introduction:    Today's Gospel tells us that it's never too late for God. A full wage is offered to each of us, whether one has served him for a whole lifetime, or has turned to Him only at the eleventh hour. This story of the landlord's love and generosity represents God’s love and generosity to us.

Exegesis: Like God, the landowner sees hints differently than the simple workers. The immanence of God is seen in the landowner’s kindness to those who were not chosen to work at the beginning. The landowner felt sorry for the fact that they wouldn’t get a full day’s wages, so he decided to pay them all the same daily wage. It was a generous gift, especially to those who only had worked one hour. The fact that the landowner could empathize with the workers who needed a wage to survive, to feed their families, and so on, shows his care. The fact that it doesn’t seem fair to the workers who worked all day doesn’t enter into his thoughts because it is his generosity which is at work here, not his justice. Mercy often overrides justice for God.

A man named Charles was lying in a hospital bed near death. The nursing staff, the man's wife and a couple of children all testified that Charles was not a very nice man. He drank too much, he was verbally abusive to his wife and he had alienated his children. He did, however, ask for a Chaplain. The staff filled the Chaplain in on Charles and the kind of person he was. The Chaplain went in to the room to visit Charles who asked him to pray. The conversation went something like this. "Would you pray for me?" Charles asked. "What do you want to say to God?" The Chaplain asked. "Tell God that I am sorry for the way my life has turned out. Tell him that I am sorry for the way I treated my wife and family and that I've always really loved her." "That's it?" "No. Tell God that I know I have no right to ask this -- but, I would like to be able to live with him." The Chaplain prayed Charles' prayer for him. He came back the next morning to inquire about Charles' condition. He had passed away during the night. Now what do you suppose? Did Charles receive the grace of God? And if he did, did he receive as much of God's love and grace as you and I have after all these years of service? Here's what Jesus' parable about equal wages is trying to say. God is always available to anyone who reaches out whenever they reach out. God's timing is such that any time is the right time! (Rev. John Jewell). We do not know when our right time is. So be ready always. Do not wait for death-bed conversion.

Joke:     The CEO of a large company was walking to the cafeteria along with two of his secretaries. Upon tripping on a bottle, a genie appeared and asked the threesome if they would like to each make a wish. The first secretary excitedly exclaimed, “I wish I was on a beach in a tropical island!” Immediately her wish was granted. The next secretary proclaimed, “I wish I was on a tour of France!” Immediately her wish too, was granted. Being that it was now his turn to make a wish the CEO exclaimed “I want the two of them back in their offices right after lunch!”

Practical Applications:    (1) We need to follow God’s example and show grace to our neighbor.  When someone else is more successful than we are, let us assume he needs it.  When someone who does wrong fails to get caught, let us remember the many times we have done wrong and gotten off free. We must not wish pain on people for the sake of fairness.  We become envious of others because of our lack of generosity of heart.  Envy should have no place in our lives.  We cannot control the way God blesses others.

(2) We need to express our gratitude to God in our daily lives.  God personally calls each of us to our own ministry and shows us his care by giving us His grace and eternal salvation.  To God, we are more than just numbers on a payroll.  Our call to God’s vineyard is a free gift from God for which we can never be sufficiently thankful. All our talents and blessings are freely given by God. Hence, we should express our gratitude to God by avoiding sins, by rendering loving service to others, by sharing our blessings with the needy,  and by constant prayer,  listening and talking to God at all times.

Introduction:Twenty fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message:  How different are the Lord’s ways from our own! Gracious and good to all, the Lord is equally generous in compassion and love to both those who are quick to respond to his invitation, as well as those who are slow to hear his call.  May the Lord Jesus always be our life.    

Saints and Events in this Week:  23 – Twenty third – Tuesday – Saint Padre Pio [Pius of Pietrelcina], priest; 26 – Twenty Sixth – Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Saturday – Saint Vincent De Paul, priest;