TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Isaiah 55:6-9

Psalm 145

Phil. 1:20-24, 27

Matt. 20:1-16

Theme: THE LAST LABOURER

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

The landowner went out at the eleventh hour, when it was left with only one hour to the close of day's work, and surprisingly hired new labourers!

Everything about this move of the landowner was strange and unheard of in Jewish tradition. The Jewish day is supposed to close at the twelveth hour, which is 6pm, after which no one is expected to work, plus one has to work for a stipulated amount of hours to deserve a daily wage. Thus, hiring labourers at the eleventh hour was unacceptable.

'Eleventh Hour Labourers' do not deserve to be employed. They came too late and did not do much, and so do not deserve anything, yet the landowner employed them. He did not only employ them, he also paid them the same amount as those deserving of a daily wage.

Beloved, God's generosity towards us, especially those who are undeserving according to the calculations of men, is inexplicable. It goes beyond human principles, defies the human concept of justice, and does not concern itself with what others think. Indeed, His thoughts are far beyond our thoughts, and his ways are not ours.

Thanks be to God that it is He, rather than mortal men, who pays us.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the generous ways in which you pay us. Amen.

May God bless you. 

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.