THE LORD IS KIND AND FULL OF COMPASSION

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 20:1-16

In our modern society and with today's mentality, profit is the only measure of value in any business. The greater the profit, the more valuable something is, and we rank people and enterprises by profit. Jesus does not follow such a logic, and this Sunday’s gospel makes it clear. To enter the Kingdom of God, one must answer God’s call and be ready to work and carry out the task entrusted to us. However, the Kingdom of God goes beyond our efforts and our commitment. We are never worthy of the Kingdom of God, no matter what we do. We will enter if we accept with thanksgiving God’s gift, who is superabundant in his grace.

In the parable, the labourers were offered work at different times, and the first ones worked harder and longer than the last ones, but all of them answered promptly when they were invited and sent to the vineyard. The first ones, who worked the whole day, agreed to do the job for one denarius, the ordinary wage for one day of manual labour. In the army, the common soldier also received one denarius a day. However, the soldier was sure of his wages, while the manual labourer depended on finding work. One denarius a day was enough to keep one’s family and to live acceptably. So the first ones who went to the vineyard received the necessary for the upkeep of their household. And the owner of the vineyard decided to give all the others, even the last ones, enough to have a worthy life with their families. He gave what should be given and respected the workers’ rights, but he was generous enough to give to all of them the essentials for their living.

It is by grace that we are accepted in God’s kingdom; it is not something that we conquer and obtain on our own. To all of us, God grants the same dignity and the same opportunity to answer his call. There is no competition, and there is no place for a sense of pride. We don’t fight for the first place, as if we can win, leaving the others behind. We must humble ourselves and offer our hand to all those who seem to be behind so that, in the end, we reach the goal together, receiving the same reward that will surpass our expectations.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

  slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

  compassionate to all his creatures.

Psalm 145

THE LORD IS COMPASSION AND LOVE

XXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9

In this Sunday’s gospel, we listen to the parable about the unforgiving servant (Mt 18:21-35) and the fate that awaited him: he was handed over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. Indeed, he was in an impossible predicament. His debt was huge; thus, he would never be able to pay it. If he did not manage it while he was free and able to work, how could he do it now in prison? However, he could not blame anybody for his difficult situation. He had brought it upon himself.

The parable is very clear and to the point. Even his co-workers were shocked by his harshness and lack of compassion. How could he be so unforgiving against his fellow servant, while he had been forgiven a huge amount of money that he would never be able to pay? “His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him.” And he was taken back to his master, who could not understand such lack of compassion and mercy, and he defined his moral calibre in a simple sentence: “You wicked servant”. He was a selfish man, only thinking of himself, incapable of empathy for others. Arrogant and exacting for others, as if surrounded by an aura of power and prestige, while, before the more powerful, like his master, he was ready to fall on his knees and prostrate himself.

Jesus ends the parable with a warning: “And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.” How can we dare to ask God for forgiveness while we have a merciless attitude towards others? Such an attitude reveals our own character and says more about ourselves than the others. The first reading, taken from the book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), presents a reflection on this subject: 

“Resentment and anger, these are foul things, 

and both are found with the sinner.” 

“If a man nurses anger against another, 

can he then demand compassion from the Lord? Showing no pity for a man like himself, 

can he then plead for his own sins?” 

“He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord,

  who keeps strict account of sin.

Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you,

  and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.”

When we allow our hearts to be dominated by evil, they cannot find peace and be at rest. Evil will end up destroying our lives, as it destroys the lives of others. May the Lord grant us a heart full of kindness, mercy and compassion so that we allow ourselves to be touched by the sufferings of others.

 LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

XXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 18:15-20

This Sunday’s first reading is taken from the prophet Ezekiel and invites us to reflect on the role of the prophet. He is a human being – "son of man” – called by God and entrusted with a mission: “Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel.” (Ez 33:7-9) A sentry must be on the alert and keep guard to warn, protect and defend. The prophet is called to be at the service of God’s word. He should never betray his ministry and must remain faithful to the Lord who sent him. A true prophet does not preach his own word but God’s word. He has no right to ignore, change or adapt God’s word. He is answerable to God, not to the people who hear his preaching. In our times, like in the times of Israel, there are false prophets and fake preachers who do everything to please the crowds and be surrounded by multitudes. Some become rich and powerful preaching the Gospel, thus becoming unfaithful to their mission. As a sentry, the prophet must warn people to abandon their evil ways and turn back to the Lord. The true prophet must call on people to repent and convert. The great prophet John the Baptist did that, and so did Jesus. The unfaithful prophets will be held accountable for their evil behaviour.

In the second reading, taken from the letter to the Romans, Paul insists on love as being the full obedience to the commandments. The one who is moved by love cannot hurt his neighbour. Love is the fulfilment of the law, doing everything for the well-being of others. If we experienced God’s love, we would learn the way of mercy and compassion, allowing our hearts to be touched by the suffering of others. According to Paul, mutual love is the debt we have to others, and this is a debt that must be paid.

This mutual love must lead us to do a brotherly correction, which must be done in a sensible way and with respect. We must worry about the salvation of our brothers and sisters and do everything in our power to help them to walk along the way to salvation. We may do it with our prayer and our word and hope that they will do the same to us so that we may share together in God’s glory as we shared the difficult journey of life in this world.

Let us keep in mind the words of the psalmist:

O that today you would listen to his voice!

  ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,

  as on that day at Massah in the desert

when your fathers put me to the test;

  when they tried me, though they saw my work.’

Psalm 95