Return to the Just and Generous God :::25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Isaiah 55:6-9

Psalm 145:2-3.8-9.17-18 (R. 18a)

Philippians 1:20c-24.27a

Matthew 20:1-16

Return to the Just and Generous God

A story is told of a man who was asked to request anything that he wants and his neighbor will get double of whatever he will request. So if he ask for car for instance, his neighbor will get two of them. But this man out of envy and wickedness requested that his eye should be blinded, so that his neighbors eyes will be blinded and he more better of than his neighbor.  We all wants to be better than someone else or treated special than someone else. 

Human thoughts are indeed truly not the thoughts of God. Come to think of it, God's nature is different from Human's nature; God is all knowing, man is limited in knowledge. So why do we want to equate our thoughts with that of God, whom we share in his being. By Nature, God is Life. 

This is what is called "Aseity"; which is from the Latin language, where "a" means from, and "se" means self. Thus concerning God who is triune; He is life himself by eternally  begetting, being begotten, and spirating. So the Father eternally begets the Son and spirates the Spirit, the Son eternally is begotten, and the Spirit eternally is spirated. Since God is pure act, this triune activity is God's Life.

In God's life we find what we will be reflecting on today, namely Justice and Generosity. Briefly speaking, we can say that although God did not send his Son to judge, but so that through him the world might be saved (cf. John 3:17), saving the world means bringing justice to the world and hence he said;

John 5:22

"For the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,"

On the Cross, he brought us Justice by Sacrificing himself in atonement for our Sins, and at the final day he will be our judge.

We can also say is base on God's generosity that He gives us the Holy Spirit, who is the generous spirit, known as the Love existing between the Lover (God the Father) and His beloved (God the Son).

Psalm 51:12

Give me back the Joy of your salvation, sustain in me a generous spirit.

Since justice is found in Salvation and generosity is found in Vocation, and both are found in God who is merciful, let's look at today's readings.

In the first reading, God calls sinners to return to him. Already we see God's Generosity; he invites us who are not worthy of him back to himself and to participate in his life. He add that his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. We mostly feel unwelcome when we err against our fellow humans, but it's not so with God, he is always willing to make the first move towards us, to accept us and save us. When Adam and Eve sinned, while they were hiding God was searching for them, God searches for us more than we do. Today we are told to search for God while he may be found.

How lost can you be that God's justice and generosity can not locate you? Through his Justice, God is always willing to save you. Through his Generosity, God  is always willing to call you. Life calls us to share in his life which is eternal. 

In the gospel today, we see also how just the Lord of the vineyard was by giving the first group the agreed wage and also how generous he was by giving those whom  he invited later a day's wage. He was just to the first group because he gave them what they deserve. He was was generous to the others because he gave them more than they deserve. 

First of all, they all deserve to be employed, they are all qualified, and so as in the ancient times they were waiting for people to employ them into their vineyards or workplaces, but the times they were employed varied.

 In many countries today, especially African countries; those who are qualified and deserve to be employed for a particular work do not get the work but unqualified persons rather get them because of tribalism, nepotism, bribery and corruption. At the long run, the country suffers.  This is not a behavior of "Life," those who are willing to bring destruction and death to others and their country are on the side of death and not at the side of God who is LIFE. 

Paul in the Second Reading makes it clear that God is life, so if he die in Christ or is alive and is in Christ, whatever maybe the case, God is Life and when you are at his side you work for the life of others and ultimately for God. He is willing to die a Go to Life, but he also wills to live and work for Life by helping those who are either new to the life of Life or have not encountered Life as he has and has matured in him.

Now looking at the groups that were employed in today's gospel and the time that they were employed, what comes to mind about those called at 9:00 am, 12:00pm, and 3:00pm, is the various times Jews are to pray.

9:00 am is the first hour of prayer (cf. Acts 2:15) when the Temple gates opened.  The Hebrew word for this hour of prayer is "Shacharit"(morning). One may begin this Prayer upon arising.This Prayer and its rituals ends at noon (12:00pm). 

3:00pm is the second hour of prayer (cf. Acts 3:1; 10:9). The Hebrew word for this hour of prayer is "Minchah" (gift-offering).  Mincha may be recited beginning half an hour after halachic noontime. 

From 6:00pm, the third hour of prayer called "Ma'ariv" or evening prayer is said. Considering that the Jewish calendar date begins with the preceding nightfall, maariv or the evening prayer is actually seen as the first of the day's prayers.

Now the point is that, the time these people were called is Prayer time and they are to go to the temple to pray, so what vineyard work will be more important than prayer? Or is the vineyard the temple? Base on this I will say the vineyard is the temple or specifically  the kingdom of God.  Thus those who are working there are children of the Kingdom of God and they are to show others that indeed God is Life. 

There was however a group that was called at an awkward time; those called at 5:00pm. This group represents the gentiles who at the latter days through the Cross, have been saved and are given the opportunity to become children of God (cf. John 3:16). They who were last, through God's Generosity have been given a just priviledge to be first. 

In God's act Generosity we see Justice. Here we completely understand why his thoughts are not ours and his ways are not ours. He choosing the Israelites as his treasured possession first did not mean he has neglected the gentiles or other nations, and so with his justice he has balanced the equation, so that as he called everything in the beginning through his Justice and Generosity which is part of his life, he calls all people to himself and his Kingdom. God has not neglected you.

The mandate of us Christians is that, we are to show with our life that truly God is Life. Let's fight for justice for those who are cheated, let's condemn any action that does not proclaim Life. Finally we are not only to be better for our neighbors but help them to be better too.

By Sylvester Amakye-Quayson