Homily (Reflection) for the Twenty-Fifth
Sunday of the Year (A) (24th September, 2017) on the Gospel
Is 55:6-9;
Ps 144:2-3.8-9.17-18.
(R.v. 18);Phil 1:20-24.27;
Matt 20:1-16.
One man hired a bricklayer and a labourer to work for him. As
they were working, the labourer’s eyes were practically on his timepiece right
from the time he set his foot on the site. The man who hired them was around
almost all the time observing how the work was going. He noticed among other
things that sometimes the bricklayer had to do the work of the labourer because
he went to look at his timepiece and probably make some calculations and
announcements.
When the time
came for the bricklayer and the labourer to be paid, the man who hired them was
confused. As a result, he asked the labourer: “Although I hired you to assist
the bricklayer but I do not know what to pay you for. The time you spent on
your timepiece seems to be much longer than the time you used to assist the
bricklayer. So, do I pay you for assisting the bricklayer or for being a
timekeeper since you did more of the work of a timekeeper?” The labourer waited
for sometime and told him – “Well, you can pay me for either of them or better
for both”.
Topic:
Do your work.
In the gospel, we see the parable
of the owner of a vineyard and the labourers in the vineyard. These labourers
were hired at different times. When the time for payment came, those who
arrived first had thought they would receive something higher than others
considering the fact that they worked the whole day, cf. Matt 20: 11-12. However, they all received the same wage (reward) –
one denarius he had agreed to pay
those who started the work early in the morning, cf. Matt 20: 2. As if rewarding all the labourers equally was not
enough, the owner of the vineyard did not even consider paying those who came
first before others, cf. Matt 20: 8-9.
Could this be the fulfilment of prophesy: “… many that are first will be last,
and the last first” (Matt 19:30; cf. Mk 10:31; Lk 13:30)? Because some worked
from early in the morning until evening and some worked for just an hour, one
will not be surprised why those who came first “… thought they would receive
more …” (v. 10) and the subsequent
grumbling, cf. v. 11. But in response to their grumbling the owner of the
vineyard said: “Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why would you be
envious because I am generous?” (Matt
20: 15).
According to this parable, from
early in the morning until the last hour of the day, the owner of the vineyard kept
going to the marketplace to hire labourers. Things that are striking in this
parable include that the owner of the vineyard never went out without seeing
labourers standing at the marketplace. Again, he never scolded any of them perhaps
for not coming out on time. And lastly, he paid all of them equally. To
understand this parable better, it is pertinent to consider these questions
among others: Who is the vineyard owner and what is the vineyard? Again, what
is the meaning of hiring labourers for his vineyard? The prophet Isaiah wrote:
For as the rain and the snow come
down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, so
shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me
empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing
for which I sent it (Is 55:10-11).
The gospel according to Mark tells
us how Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee saying: “The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the
good news” (Mk 1:15). Through his
preaching, he made disciples but he did not convert everybody just as the owner
of the vineyard could not hire all the workers at once. Hence while about leaving
the world he said to his disciples: “… Peace be with you. As the Father has
sent me, even so I send you” (Jn 20:21).
He sent his disciples into the world to “…make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20). These disciples even preached
when Jesus was still physically present, cf. Mk 6:12 but especially after the resurrection as evident in the
Acts of the Apostles. Yet, they did not succeed in converting everybody. Hence
we still share in the work of preaching the good news till today. When Peter
enquired of what would be their (the apostle’s) reward Jesus promised them
heaven in these words:
Truly I tell you, at the renewal of
all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who
have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel (Matt 19:28).
So, the one denarius is the kingdom of heaven. God from the
Old Testament till today calls all of us to work for him. God continues to come
to the marketplace through all the means he makes Himself especially His Word
known for us to repent. Those who did the will of God even before Jesus through
the time of Jesus, his disciples till today will surely have the same fair wage
– the kingdom of heaven. No one is worthy of the kingdom of heaven. We only hope
to enjoy the beatific vision because of the goodness of God. No matter how long
one is at God’s service here on earth (in the vineyard), there is only one
heaven for all who served Him well here on earth. If anyone can hearken to his
call even today, the same heaven will be the reward. God gives to all men life
and breath and everything and needed nothing from men, (cf. Acts 17:25) we are all equal before him.
Bible Reading: Is 55:1-13; Matt 3:1-12; Lk 15:1-7; 8-10; 11-32.
Thought for today: How good is your work?
Let
us pray: Let us pray: Lord, give me grace to work for you in your vineyard as a good labourer.
May I not calculate how long I have worked or how you will reward me –
Amen.
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