When to Find the Lord

 Reflection on Today's Reading, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, September 20th, 2020

Texts: Is. 55:5-9; Ps.145:2-3.8-8.17-18; Phil.1:20c-24.27a; Matt. 20:1-16

God is always found in the holiness of life; he is near to us when we turn to him and turn away from sins. Today's first reading says, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."  The response to today's psalm says, "The Lord is close to all who call him." Those who call on him are those who put their trust in him and walk in his ways. The second reading gives us St. Paul as an example of such persons. His desire was to honour God in his body, whether by life or by death. He is an example of men whose concerns are to please the Lord. The gospel reading shows the possibility of us not finding the Lord at the same time, but at different times. It is not only that we will find the Lord at different times, but also with different conditions: the first group with an agreed reward, the second group with promise of reward, but no specified amount; the last with no promise of any kind, so it is unconditional. What is common to them is that they all work for the Lord, they work in his vineyard. No matter the time, no matter the condition that lead us to him, no matter the ways by which we come, we shall all receive the same reward. Jesus wants us to know that we will all be given the same reward. In so far one's manner of life is worthy of the gospel, we shall all receive the same reward, the eternal life, life with God and in God. Another lesson from the gospel is that eternal life cannot be won by our efforts, but by God's grace, it is a free gift of God. Hence, it is said, "'Take what belong to you, and go; I choose to give to the last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be th first, and the first the last." If we think that eternal life can be by our efforts we will just waste away and lose it. We will lose it because it will make us to forget the God of the work and be carried away with the work. Let us look up to the Lord, for without him we can do nothing. Envy and jealousy of one another is dangerous; it can bring us from the first to the last. The gospel reading also reminds us that God is both just and generous. 

Lord our God, may our eyes be opened to see your gracious gifts to us and turn to you for salvation. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke