Readings: Ezek.34:1-11, PS.23, Matt. 20:1-16
Rev.
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
WHY ARE YOU STANDING IDLE ALL DAY? YOU GO INTO MY VINEYARD TOO
Oftentimes,
when we are passing through the dark moment of life, it seems as if all hope is
gone. We put up all our energy and enthusiasm struggling and hoping for a
better and brighter moment. Sometimes it seems as if that brighter moment won’t
come. The truth is that our time of favour and success is not determined by how
long or strenuously we have struggled but by our disposition towards God's time
of grace and generosity, for God alone decides how to reward us for our
efforts. All we need is to be disposed to do his will at all times because life
is all about being ready and present for your time and turn, so we have to wait
for God’s time and our turn.
This
is what the parable of the vineyard labourers in our Gospel passage today is
teaching us, especially as regards our disposition towards embracing the
kingdom of God. So from the Gospel, the landowner went beyond justice, for
motivated by compassion, he employed labourers at different times and in the
end, he decided to pay them the same wages as agreed with those who were hired
first, of which they felt bad for the landowner’s generosity towards those
hired last.
Here
the human mind suspects injustice, while the heart of God sees only an
opportunity to be generous. This generosity of God calls us to be generous,
too, but out of envy, we often selfishly consider ourselves more deserving than
others.
However,
we can identify three kinds of persons from this parable: First, those who are
like the landowner who hires people to get a job done but with sympathies for
those to be employed. Secondly, the unemployed are waiting desperately in the
marketplace and thirdly, the labourers who consider themselves more deserving
than others. Thus, we all need to ask
ourselves, among these three groups where do I belong? This is important
because the way workers and labourers are being treated in our societies these
days is appalling. For those who are meant to lead and shepherd, the people are
taking advantage of the people they are called to shepherd.
Hence,
God, through the prophet Ezekiel, in our first reading, addressed the shepherds
who ought to guide and feed the sheep, but are now feeding on the sheep,
scattering them in order to select their choice and feed on their milk, wear
their wool, eat their flesh, enriching and fatling themselves from their
products. While treating the sheep harshly and brutally, abandoning the sick,
the weak and the strayed.
This
shows us how the leaders of our society have betrayed their mission. Instead of
promoting a just society in accordance with the plan of God, they are using
their authority to enrich themselves while oppressing the people entrusted to
them. Therefore, let us imitate St. Pope Pius X, whose memorial we celebrate
today, for as a loving shepherd, he is known for his love for God and his
neighbours in simplicity of heart.
Dear
friends, today, the duties neglected by our leaders are going to be taken over
by God himself, who is the Good Shepherd. He assures us that even though we are
the least, the nobody and most neglected in the eyes of the world, He will not
forget us, for He has time and plan for everyone and will continue to provide
for our daily needs. But warns the leaders that they should change their greedy
and sinful ways because when the Lord’s time comes, the last will be the first
and the first, last. For in his kingdom, there is time and plan for everyone
with equal grace and equal status.
LET US
PRAY: Almighty God, today you promised to take good care of your sheep yourself
as you warn us to change from our sinful, greedy and corrupt ways of life. Help
us to change and be more caring and loving and to always be disposed to doing
your will. As we go about our daily activities, may your favour follow us even
to the last hour, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.
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