Pastor's Letter 20230924 - 24 September 2023 - God's Generosity

Father Michael · September 23, 2023

September 24^th, 2023

25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Go into my vineyard and work. I’ll pay you what is just.”

A Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme: “God's Generosity"

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Isaiah 55:6-9) We can take comfort in knowing that ours is a God Who defies our abilities to conceive Him—Who is greater than our wildest dreams can imagine. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are God’s ways above our ways.

The ways and thoughts of God are far beyond our capacity to predict or deduce Israel was restored by His inscrutable plan for His people. Returning home from exile, they learn the only requirement for attendance at the glorious feast of God’s Kingdom is a desire to turn to the Lord from their evil ways, and hunger for righteousness.

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(Philippians 1:20-27) Writing from prison, ^†Paul was thinking of his death, and longing for complete union with Christ. God has involved Himself in our existence to the point of becoming one of us in Christ, and showing us how to love as worthy reflections of His love in our world.

^†Paul knew the work he had begun would live on and the Good News would be proclaimed, whether by his life or even in his death. He addressed the citizens of Philippi, telling them they were citizens of the Kingdom, and their “constitution” was that of the Gospel of Christ.

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(Matthew 20:1-16) This is a story about God’s generosity, which soars above human standards.

Jewish Christians, who may have “come late” to Christ were equal in the Kingdom. Thereby, Gentile Christians were equal sharers with Jewish Christians in the economy of salvation, upon their accepting the Good News. Likewise, modern pastors must minister to the “latecomers” and the “lazy,” in the same manner.

The Last Shall Be First

Seen through the filter of the world, with its concerns and rules of fairness, it is easy to side with the laborers in today’s Gospel Reading, who were hired at the start of the day. Having toiled in the vineyard for a full day, they were naturally incensed to think that those who worked only an hour deserved the say pay as theirs.

As natural as it might be to think this way, we must consider that Jesus was talking about the Kingdom of God. None of us deserves anything from God, let alone could we ever cause Him to be indebted to us. Everything has been graciously bestowed on us, even life, itself, as a free gift. We never can earn the right of relating personally to God. In serving Him, we receive much more than we ever give Him. Working in the vineyard of God’s Kingdom is not a burden, but a privilege! If we have responded early, we are not unfortunate or ill-used; we are favored. But, if we have responded late, we are favored, too!

God’s generosity is a great comfort for believers. We know, whether we admit it or not, that we can never be “worthy” of eternal salvation, because, even among the best of us, we are quite inadequate beings. Nothing we do can “measure up” to the perfection of God. Only through His magnanimity could we ever hope to be included in the wonder that is eternal life in heaven.

It is a great challenge for us to imitate HIs benevolence in our everyday interactions. A conversion is required in order for us to begin acting in a manner, in which we believe God might act. Our meager human conception of His perfection, omnipotence, omniscience and grandeur can only pale, in comparison to the reality…about which we can only imagine.

Therefore, no one would desire to be treated according to “strict justice,” by God. Rather, we long for His mercy and compassion. Although we can never put God in our debt…it isn’t necessary to do so. God is generous to such a degree that it far outstrips any human generosity.

All we must do is open our hearts to His love, because, having experienced it, it will serve as a model for our dealings with one another. Pondering how we could be the beneficiaries of such incredible generosity, we will be moved to be generous, as well. This beautiful cycle of generosity starts with God and elicits our participation. He gives to us so we can give to others—and thereby, experience His generosity through us.

May God Richly Bless You!