TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A.
24th September 2023.
Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16.
Today’s gospel reminds us that our relationship with God must be on his own terms. The parable of the landowner explains to us what God’s terms looks like. The landowner in his generosity employed workers for his vineyard at daybreak. He went out further at the third, sixth, ninth and the eleventh hour to invite more workers to his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. He paid all the workers a denarius each irrespective of the time of arrival beginning with the last. The first took the money but grumbled at the landowner because they expected to be paid more than others. They expected the others to be paid less. They lost sight of the generosity and justice of the landowner of having been employed in the first place.
Our relationship with God must be on his terms. The prophet Isaiah pointed this out in the first reading: my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways. God is generous and just. Like the landowner who employed workers for his vineyard at different hours of the day. God’s salvation is open to anyone who believes irrespective of colour or race. God in his exceptional generosity, decides to give everyone a chance at salvation. What he offers us is salvation. God’s salvation is open to all humanity. There is no way to measure or quantify salvation. It is the same for everyone irrespective of when one was invited. It is a decision that is purely on God’s own terms. This is a fact that we cannot change, we just have to accept it as it is. For whoever believes is saved.
Rather than grumble at God like the workers employed at the daybreak, let us dispose ourselves to God’s own terms. Our focus is on being saved. St. Paul understood this when he wrote in the second reading: Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. God’s terms will win us salvation. Salvation comes to us through God’s benevolence. He grants his salvation according to his will. This is similar to what the landowner said to the ungrateful workers: Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous? God offers us abundantly and equally. Salvation cannot be quantified, but is earned through faith. It is on God’s terms.
Fr Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.
