Reflection on the Readings

09-19-2020Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi

The parable of the landowner and laborers in the Gospel today speaks loudly to us with the current unprecedented, high-rate of unemployment as a result of the pandemic. Not having a job or the ability to provide for family needs is one of the most challenging situations in which we can find ourselves. The scripture readings today are centered on the generosity of God and the depth of his love and mercy for us that is beyond our human comprehension. The landowner in the Gospel story represents God. He was not only generous enough to hire people to work in his vineyard, but he personally went out in search of workers and offered them job opportunities. This illustrates how God, in his generosity, sent his son to search for us and gave his life for us. Jesus invites us to serve God in his vineyard, the Church. It is not by our personal effort or merit that we belong to the Church. Everyone of us was invited by Jesus Christ into the vineyard at different times and in different ways.

In an ordinary sense, it is difficult to justify why this landowner chose to pay those who worked for only one hour the same amount as those who worked all day. The generosity of this landowner illustrates the nature of God’s love and generosity towards us. God generously opens the doors of his kingdom to all who will enter, both the strong and the weak, those who were faithful throughout their lives and those who repented at the last minute. In a real sense, the last workers in the vineyard did not earn the whole day’s wage, but the landowner chose to pay them the full amount. The early workers were envious of the last ones but fail to remember that the landowner did not cheat them in any way. Here, we learn that we can never claim that we have earned our salvation, or hold God accountable for anything.

The scripture readings today invite us to remember that everything we have comes from God, to appreciate God’s blessings on us, and to be content with who we are and what we have without comparing ourselves with others.

Thank you and remain blessed,

Fr. James