26th Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Cycle A
Ez
18:25-28
Phil
2:1-11
Mt
21:28-32
It’s not fair! And thank
God it’s not.
Today’s readings tie in
nicely with last week’s, where we heard the parable of the vineyard workers where
the workers who were hired for only a short time received the same wage as
those who had worked all day under the sun. The ones who had worked all day
felt cheated because the vineyard owner was generous with his money. We hear
from the prophet Ezekial today that the Israelites felt they were not being
treated fairly by God because there were consequences to their actions. Ezekial
sets them straight just as the vineyard owner last week did with the workers
who had felt cheated.
It is so good that God
does not treat us as we treat each other. It is so good for us that God’s ways
are not our ways. What we think is fair may not be what God thinks is fair. We think
that getting our fair share means someone else misses out. God gives everyone
the same based upon our actions. Our idea of justice is really around
punishment. God’s idea of justice is all about mercy. We are all given as many
chances as we like to repent and return to God, up until the very moment of our
death. And it doesn’t matter what other people do. It’s our choice and we will
each have to suffer the consequences of our choices.
It doesn’t matter how
long it takes us, just as long as we make the right choice.
Both sons in the vineyard
story today had a change of heart, but the only decision that mattered was the
one that ultimately conformed to their father’s will. We aren’t given any
reasons for their decisions. We don’t know why they ultimately changed their
minds. Perhaps the first son who initially agreed to go into the vineyard was
attacked and vilified for it. Maybe his friends lured him away to go have some
fun instead. Perhaps the second son was
hard-headed and proud, but came to obey his father out of love for him. Or maybe
his friends guilted him into it. Their situations didn’t matter, only their decisions
did.
We are all called to work
in the vineyard of the Lord and be faithful to his commandments. And his
commandment is to love one another as he has loved us. To love someone else as
God loves them is to humbly serve them.
I spend too much time on
social media, I admit it. It seems that every day someone posts a meme or a
comment about how important it is to focus on yourself, to rid yourself of
people who do not bring out the best in you, or don’t reciprocate your
affection or attention. Be strong and be alone. Don’t rely on others. Such an American
way of thinking, isn’t it? But that is not how God thinks. St. Paul says today
that not only should we be of one mind and heart, we should actually live for
one another, to empty ourselves just as Jesus did.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than
yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.
To be truly human is to
serve others. Jesus said that he did not come to be served but to serve. God
didn’t have to become man. He didn’t have to redeem us. He didn’t have to suffer
our ignorance. He didn’t have to suffer and die on that cross. He chose to. He humbled
himself and became one of us, because he loved us so. He not only became human,
Paul says he took on the form of a slave, the lowest form of human. He became
obedient and humbled himself. Are we greater that that? Are we called to anything
other than that?
Jesus always turns things
on their head. We think that success will come from being self-reliant, smart,
and focused on ourselves. Jesus says the greatest person is the one who is the servant
of all. We think that those that work harder should get more. Jesus says that
everyone is subject to his mercy, no matter what. We think that appearances
matter. Jesus says that we will be judged not by our words and our promises but
by our actions. Those who do nothing will receive nothing, but even the
reluctant workers will get the rewards.
And we are given every
chance throughout our lives to make decisions to act, even to the very end of
our lives. The workers in last week’s parable thought it was not fair that
those who had worked in the vineyard only one hour should get the same pay as
those who worked all day. And we may think that it’s not fair that someone who had
lived a wicked life but at the end repents will gain the same reward as the
person who was faithful their entire life. But what if you were that person, would
you care if it were fair, or would you rejoice in your good fortune? We should
not consider it a slight to ourselves if God is merciful to others. We should rejoice
with them.
I find it a great comfort
to know that I can choose God even in the last moment of my life, and he will
be merciful. I also know that I can not choose God, and there will be consequences
to that. I know that I am called to work every day of my life for others if I
am to be a true disciple. And discipleship will bring me happiness and will greatly
benefit those around me, and will ultimately lead to eternal life with God. It’s
really hard to think of myself last, and I rarely do it well, but I am still
called to try, even if I fail.
Think not as human beings
do but as God does. We never seem to understand that, do we? It seems to be so
difficult for us to live not for ourselves but for others. We don’t understand
that the best way to be happy in ourselves is to deny ourselves and live for
others. The path to happiness and fulfillment in life is through selflessness. That
is the way God thinks. Jesus proved that.
We are not to worry about
what others are doing. Worry about yourself. Only an empty cup can be filled. Empty
yourself and you will be filled. By humbling himself Jesus was exalted. It will
be the same with us.
It’s really not fair. Isn’t
that wonderful?
