DAILY HOMILIES #parable

When Jesus mentioned the rewards, the disciples felt relief. However, Jesus narrated the Parable of the Landowner to teach them a fundamental lesson: when receiving rewards, avoid comparing yourself with others. Like the workers recruited for work in the vineyard at different times, we are not all gifted the same way; we were not all born on the same day, and we did not come to know God on the same day. However, after our labour, we shall all receive exactly what we deserve.

Forgiveness is hard, but it is possible. It is like crossing a river on foot. In today’s First Reading, God instructs Joshua on how the Israelites were to cross the River Jordan. Joshua told the people: “…this is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst…” Let us go on our knees daily to ask God for the grace to do the impossible – that is, to forgive others (to free them from the prisons of hate within our hearts). This is our way of crossing the River Jordan to the land flowing with milk and honey (that is, peace of mind)

My brothers and sisters, have you written your will? If God were to demand your soul this very night, would He call you a fool or a wise person? According to St. Ambrose, “The things that we cannot carry with us are not our own. Virtue alone is the companion of the dead. Mercy alone follows us—and mercy alone gains abodes for the departed.”

If only God could open our eyes to see his glory, ascending and descending upon the Tabernacle, we would not be able to contain ourselves as the Psalmist sings. “My soul longs and yearns to be in God’s presence. A day in God’s house is better than a thousand elsewhere!” I would rather dwell in the foot mats of God’s house than have a three-bedroom suite in the devil’s mansion.

There is a saying: “Do not spend your health trying to make money because all the money in the world cannot buy back your health.” Similarly, we can say: “Do not spend your soul trying to gain the world because all that the world contains cannot buy back your soul.” Never get so busy that you do not have time for personal prayer and daily examination of conscience (which is the act of checking up on your soul)

The constant challenge before us, as Christians, is to recognise our true potential as wheat amid weeds. You are an eagle, not a chicken. You are meant to shine, like a lamp which gives light in the house, not meant to be hidden under a bushel. You are meant to fly high, not follow the crowd. You can be a Saint; do not be discouraged by the weeds you grew up with.

Do not be carried away with sayings such as: “A bird in hand is better than a thousand in the wind.” As long as God is ignored in that plan, the so-called “bird in hand” will become a bone in your throat later. Our people have a parable: “If one rushes to put food into their mouth, they could easily put the food in their nose.” Although it is true that “heaven helps those who help themselves”, if such “help” involves sin, we are no longer helping ourselves but setting ourselves up for regret.

This parable teaches us to repent of vices such as using others to measure one’s progress in life, making others look small and unimportant, speaking ill of others, and praying against them. Repent from the philosophy of “I beta pass my neighbour.” Compare yourself only with who you were yesterday. Seek to improve, not to impress.

No matter what your past has been, as Micah says today, God will forgive your sin (Cf. Micah 7:18-20). The only time God will not forgive is when we refuse to ask for forgiveness. This is known as despair (the belief that God cannot forgive).

The rich man did not go to hell because he was rich; neither did Lazarus enter heaven solely based on his poverty. Just as there are many wealthy people in heaven, there are many who died wretched and are in hell. I may be poor materially, but if my heart is corrupt and evil (turned away from God), I cannot enter heaven.

From this parable, we learn one fact: people are different! Never expect everybody to react the same way or behave the same way. In other words, everybody is not like you. While it may seem effortless for you, some people will have to struggle to accomplish what you take for granted.

Faith will keep you going despite the failures you encounter. Edison believed in his vision, and even when he failed repeatedly, he wouldn’t stop. This is the kind of faith we need in God – a faith that continues to believe regardless of our failures or disappointments. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus uses the parable of the woman and the unjust judge to teach us the need for persistence in prayer.