HOMILY FOR THE 25TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
R1 ISAIAH 55:6-9
RESPONSORIAL PSALM PSALM 145
R2 PHILIPPIANS 1:20-24,27
GOSPEL MATTHEW 20:1-16

"God gives all men equal opportunity even in their different circumstances."

I want us to understand this silent points in the gospel reading of today.

1. It is God that goes around calling people to come work in his vineyard.Some realise this calling right from birth. They are those who were born Christians. Their parents have been Christians before them and they were baptised in infancy and in no short time they had received their First Holy Communion, Confirmation and even celebrated their Church Wedding. Others embraced this call in the secondary school or in the university. Yet others do so almost nearing their graves. This is why the psalmist said "The Lord is good to all, compassionate to all His creatures".

2. It is on our own part to respond to the call like the labourers in the gospel did.

3.God wants us to understand that his grace is a pure grace. Whoever is called to follow Christ as a youth does not thereby enjoy precedence over someone called during maturity or in life's final moments. People who are near death should not think it is too late to follow Our Lord. God's reward is always superior to our short-range, human besigns. The call to work in the vineyard is an immense honour. St Bernard affirms: "Each one can find reasons to thank God in his life. We should feel particularly moved to thank God because he has called us to serve him"

4.The master of the vineyard goes out every hour to invite people to come and work in the vineyard. This shows that there is work for everyone in the vineyard of God.

5. What type of work are we talking about? According to Pope Gregory the great "The people who really work for him.......are those who are anxious to win souls and bring others to the vineyard." Thus the work that God calls us into his vineyard to do is to win souls for God by planting the gospel(seed) in men's heart(soul) so as to harvest righteousness.

6. The question now is: You that have accepted the call of God to work in his vineyard,are you doing the work? The People that have come across you, what is there testimony? No one who has crossed our paths in this life should be able to say that he was not encouraged, by our example and word,to love Christ more.

7. Where is this Vineyard? This Lord's vineyard or field is where we find ourselves; in our family,work place, transport, play field, etc. Where you find yourself is where you encounter God and introduce others to him. We must not wait for imaginary better opportunities.( when am a priest,parish council, governor, C.W.O, C.M.O.or Youth leader ). We have the grace necessary to do an effective apostolate wherever we are. Look at Paul in the second reading, he was put in prison by people who wanted him to stop preaching(working for God). Nevertheless, all this didnt stop him from working for God. He continues to work in the vineyard of the Lord with the means at his disposal. Today we read out the letter he wrote to the Philippians from a prison in Ephesus. On this Pope John Paul 11 writes "Don't let discouragement enter into your apostolate. You haven't failed,just as Christ didn't fail on the cross"

8. What does one Denarius reward means? The landlord agreed on the small wage of one denarius. This denarius is Eternal life promised to those who worked in the vineyard. We should not grumble to hear that the good thief will be paid the same wages as the patriarchs,prophets and apostles. Thus let it not shock anyone to hear that late converts are treated equally as the first converts.

9. What part have you been playing in the vineyard? Are you idle? It is not God's plan that anyone should stand idle. To stand idle is to waste time and talent and to be unproductive. Remember what happened to the servant that buried his talent in Matthew 25:24-28. Are you showing nonchalant attitude?You just come for sunday mass when you have time, receive the Sacrament when you decide,put money in the collection and go home; you don't want to be bothered beyond that. My brother/my sister it is time to start doing the work God called us to do. Let us meditate on St Paul's words “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Blessings from Fr. Franklin Ndukwu

URGENT:
IS Philippines a good country to migrate to. Nigeria don tire me. My woman wants me to come over, she has been disturbing me since January to come. I need advice. Do I need Visa to travel there?

Mature Minds (MAM) please.