Readings: Ezek.34:1-11, PS.23, Matt. 20:1-16
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
DO NOT GIVE UP EVEN AT THE LAST MOMENT
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 strenuous 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 time and turn, so we have to wait on God’s time and our turns.
This is what the parable of the vineyard labourers in our Gospel passage today is teaching us, especially as regards to 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 at the end he decided to pay them the same wages as agreed with those who were hired first, which made them feel 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 sympathy for those to be employed.
Secondly, the unemployed 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 really 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 to select their choice and feed on their milk, wear their wool, eat their flesh, enriching and fattening themselves from their products.
While treating the sheep harshly and brutally, abandoning the sick, the weak and the strayed. Showing 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.
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 nobodies and most neglected in the eyes of the world, He will not forget us, for He has a time and a 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 a 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, loving, and always 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment