25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) : 20th September 2020

People often create images of God that reflect their own opinions, prejudices, values, and worldviews. Their theological views say more about them than about God. Isaiah assures us that we know virtually nothing about God. God’s ways of thinking and acting are utterly different from our own and far above our level of understanding.

He gifts us with opportunities to draw closer and to be enlightened, so Isaiah urges us to seek God now, while he can still be found. We need not wait until we die to know God, for God is closer to us than our own breath and heartbeat.

This is clear in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The human understanding is that those who worked longer and harder should get the greater reward. In fact, they got exactly the same wages as the latecomers, who worked only an hour. That is unfair! Precisely — and God’s ways are different from our own. It does not matter if we are a latecomer. Everyone is equal; everyone gets the same reward. We are all in this together, and the heavenly banquet begins when we are all — that means everyone — seated around the table. Competition and comparison have no place in our spiritual journey. Let us help those that are still struggling.

Lord, teach me Your ways.