25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

September 24, 2017

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 55: 6-9

Psalm 145

Second Reading – Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

Gospel reading according to Matthew (20: 1-16)

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Homily: The Last will be first and the first will be last.

In the first reading, prophet Isaiah said, “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near” (Is. 55:6).  God, our loving and merciful Father, is always available; he is always present to those who seek him and call upon him.  He never abandons those who need him, for he is God who listens to our prayers, for we are his children.  But, for sinners, the prophet has something to say, “Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his  thoughts, let him turn to the Lord for mercy, to our God, who is generous in forgiving” (Is. 55:7).  It is not yet late for the sinners to amend their scoundrel and wicked lives.  They still have a chance to live a good life, for they can still find God and call to him for merry and forgiveness.

In the gospel, according to Matthew (20:1-16), Jesus gave the parable of the Kingdom and he likened it to a vineyard where there were less workers.  The landowner here is the Lord God who himself looked for the laborers to his vineyard.  He was the one who went out to seek those people who have nothing to do from dawn to noon until evening with an agreement that they received daily wage pay.  The workers agreed and worked.  When evening came and it was time to receive their wage, the landowner summoned the foreman to distribute the wages beginning from the last and to the first.  The workers who came at the last hour received the same amount that the workers who came first got.  Naturally, the workers who came first expecting higher wages, as what Jesus said, “they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat’.” (Mt. 20:11-12).  

True to what the prophet Isaiah said, “For my thoughts are not your thought, nor are yours ways my ways, says the Lord.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts” (Is 55:8-9)

God is God, and we are human beings and his creatures.  As his creatures we cannot go beyond the wisdom, knowledge and power of God.  We are finite and he is infinite.  We cannot fathom the depth, the height, the width and length of his capacity and authority as God.  (Hindi tayo puwedeng magmarunong sa Diyos sapagka’t alam ng Diyos ang lahat bago pa niya tayo likhain).

That why he was right when he answered one of those who came first, “My friend, I am not cheating you.  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  Take what is yours and go.  What if I wish to give this last one the same as yours?   Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?  Are you envious because I am generous?  Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Mt. 20:13-16).