TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 23

25TH SUNDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2023, ISAIAH 55. 6-9; PHILIPPIANS 1. 20C-24; 27A; MATTHEW 20. 1-16A Thrust: Put on God’s mindset! Focus: As true followers of Christ, we are called to put on a new mindset, that is, God’s own, in contrast to the world’s mindset 1.      What a difference between God and man! God Himself declares this in the clearest terms: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways, says Yahweh. For as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts” (Is 55. 8-9). 2.      The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Mt 20. 1-16) clearly illustrates this contrast between the divine mindset and the worldly mindset. God’s mindset is reflected in the mindset of the owner: 3.      He pays all the workers in his vineyard, equally, with a denarius each (vv. 9-11), irrespective of the differences in their arrival time and duration of their work – some, early in the morning (v. 1), some, at nine (v. 3), some, at midday (v. 4), some, at three in the noon (v. 4), and some others, at the last hour (v. 6). 4.      Obviously, it would be blamed as an unreasonable act of injustice, because how can those who worked so long and hard through the day, and those who hardly worked toward the end, be put on the same plane and be treated equally? 5.      This is the typical ordinary human mentality, represented by the early workers: they begin to grumble against the landowner. They said: ‘These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the day’s burden and heat’ “(vv. 10-12). 6.      In fact, this will be the perspective and way of thinking and arguing of most of us. And this looks perfectly reasonable and valid. But in truth, this is only selfishness in disguise and a shallow justice. 7.      It is because they are bothered only about their right and gain and not the need and good of others. Often fighting for self-interests and individual gains, gets tagged as justice issues. One fails to be sensitive to sense and serve the needs of others. 8.      The landowner was in no way unjust to anybody (v. 13: “Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on a denarius a day? So take what is yours and go.”). Plainly speaking, what injustice is done to the earlier workers in the gospel, when the owner gives equally to the last ones as well? The landowner was not unconcerned about the hard work of the earlier workers. He was just towards them. He gave them what was agreed upon. 9.      His generosity is his freedom (v. 14-15: “I want to give to the last as I give to you. Don’t I have the right to do as I please with my money?). he was concerned about the need of the last workers. His calculation is not in terms of an ordinary proportion between one’s work and the payment; rather in terms of divine proportion between need and payment. 10.  The problem is not his generosity but the jealousy of others (v. 15: “Why are you envious when I am kind?). This is the typical human mentality. Human jealousy often puts brakes on the duty of charity, and also on God’s generosity. 11.  Often the generosity shown to others and their subsequent well-being and progress is very much resented. It is not because some injustice is done to us, or we are deprived of our due. It is only because of self-oriented growth and happiness, which cannot rejoice over the good of others. 12.  But in contrast, God thinks of the need, and not the merit of the person. His mercy and generosity go beyond what man deserves. This is the free and abundant benevolence of God, which cannot be conditioned by human factors. 13.  No one can claim grace and salvation on the merit of his efforts and capacities. Grace is not an acquisition, but is God’s gift. In the light of this parable, a disciple is then called to put on the mind of God and grow more in the spirit of humility, surrender, fraternal sensitivity and generosity. Direction: Jealousy is destructive, both of the self and of others, while generosity is constructive. The more we think of our duties and not rights, the more we feel concerned about what others need rather than what is our due, there is true justice and charity, and that is the new mindset, of God himself    (Reflection 2)   Punch line: Generous or jealous? Guideline: God is always on the lookout to employ us in the vineyard of His kingdom. Are we ready to go in and work or do we want to while away the precious time?   1.      The parable of workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20. 1-16 is familiar to many. The obvious theme and thus oft-preached is Jealousy. Different workers were employed at different times. But in the end, all were paid equally. This annoys the earliest workers and they complain that the master is unjust to them by paying them just like the last workers who hardly worked. 2.       They resent an obvious injustice meted out to them. But the master detects the real problem: it is their jealousy. Thus, it is not a matter of injustice but jealousy. Apparently from the human perspective, it is an act of injustice because those who worked hard and those who did not are put on the same level are treated and paid equally. 3.       How can those who toiled hard for many hours and those who just bent down to work in the eleventh hour be equated? Is it not an injustice to ignore the merit of the early workers? 4.       But in reality, it is a fake justice and a false clamour. They were paid as it was agreed upon. They got what was their due. Then what is their problem? When others get the same pay, when others benefit more than what they deserve, what do they lose? How can they challenge the freedom and the generosity of the owner? 5.       This is the typical mentality of many today. They suffer from a false notion of justice. Whenever their self-interests are not satisfied, whenever others also profit, they feel that they are deprived of justice. 6.       They forget the fact that justice is not only a matter of rights but also duties. A true man of justice will be more conscious of the rights and the needs of others. In the name of justice, many seek self-interests. True justice is charity and generosity. 7.       True justice is seen in the master. He is dutiful and charitable. As a duty, he paid the early workers as agreed upon. He goes beyond normal justice. He treats all with respect and gives all with generosity. The criterion for his decision is not whether one deserves it but whether one needs it. This is how God acts!   Lifeline: How easily do we become intolerant and resentful when others are treated well or progress much? How easily, we boil with jealousy even in the field of faith and spirituality, not tolerating when some are blessed with spiritual gifts! Do we want to privatize and monopolize all the blessings of God?   (Reflection 3)   Thrust: A dry justice! Indicative: A great malaise of today’s society is a clamour for justice at the cost of charity 1.      The present society feels great that there is a heightened sense of justice. It claims that there is a better understanding and awareness of human dignity, human rights, and duties. But if we analyse a little deeper, it is mostly a barren and dry justice. Often it is devoid of charity. 2.       Such a shallow justice bothers only about its interests and gain. It is least bothered about others’ rights and well-being. In the name of promoting and fighting for their rights and due, they ruthlessly crush the rights and the good of others. This is the typical mentality of the early workers in the parable of the workers in the vineyard. 3.       They were not happy that the other late workers also got the same wage as them. They forget the fact that they received their due and it is none of their business to question the freedom of the owner. They were driven by jealousy. But deep beneath, there is self-centredness that steeps into injustice toward others. 4.       The word of God today invites us to become more just toward others. This implies that we rise above our self-interests, and jealousies and show more sensitivity and concern toward others. True justice can never be selfish and harm others. In the name of justice, one cannot malign others and destroy others’ rights.   Imperative: How just it is that we fight for justice doing injustice to others? There is no true justice without charity. We cannot be unaware of our fundamental duty of shepherding one another