28th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: The Eternal Banquet and the Required Garment

Readings: Is 25:6–10; Ps 23:1–6; Phil 4:12–14,19–20; Mt 22:1–14

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Through the readings of this Sunday, God invites all of us to the great banquet of heaven. He desires that every one of His creatures have free access to the eternal feast He has prepared at the end of time. The invitation is universal, the doors are wide open, and there are no restrictions at the gate. Yet, to sit at the table and partake of the meal, certain conditions must be met. God welcomes all, but He also transforms all.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah paints a magnificent picture of the feast prepared by the Lord of hosts on His holy mountain: rich food, well‑aged wines, the destruction of death, the wiping away of tears, and the removal of disgrace. This banquet is not reserved for Israel alone; it is offered to all peoples—to the nations once considered pagan, and therefore, to us as well.

In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the wedding feast to illustrate Isaiah’s prophecy. Through His teaching, death, and resurrection, He opened the door of the banquet hall to all nations. But He also uses this parable to address some pressing realities of our present world.

The first lesson comes from the rejection of the invitation. The first group of invited guests refused the king’s invitation because they were absorbed in worldly pursuits—farms, businesses, and personal interests. Their reaction mirrors the attitude of many people today. For example, on Sundays, when Christians are obliged to participate in the Eucharistic banquet, many of our friends, colleagues, and even family members choose to stay home, go to bars, gyms, or offices. They consider the invitation to the banquet of Christ unnecessary, a waste of their precious time. They have time for everything except God.

Given the beauty of the feast Isaiah describes, one would expect everyone to respond with a joyful "yes". Yet many still reject God’s invitation. And the consequences of rejecting this invitation are serious, including the loss of our place at the eternal banquet.

The second lesson comes from the treatment received by the man without the wedding garment. The parable said the king ordered his servants to throw him out. The king’s treatment of the man may seem harsh. After all, he was brought in unexpectedly. But Jewish tradition helps us to understand that the host of a wedding often provided appropriate garments at the entrance of the wedding hall for those who lacked them. This means that the man had the opportunity to change his clothes but chose not to—whether out of laziness, stubbornness, pride, or bad will. He wanted the feast without the transformation. He wanted the table without the garment.

In the same way, the Church welcomes everyone—good and bad alike. The doors of God’s house are open to all. But to remain at the banquet of eternal life, we must remove the dirty clothes of sin and put on the proper garment of the feast. What is this garment? It is love, peace, forgiveness, generosity, humility, kindness, chastity, and every virtue that reflects Christ. These virtues are our heavenly identity card—the attire required for the eternal banquet.

In recent years, the Church has been discussing how to respond to those who persistently choose lifestyles or practices contrary to the moral and theological teachings of Scripture—including, for example, same‑sex unions and other practices that contradict the Gospel. Opinions are divided. Some argue that the Church should welcome without asking for conversion; others insist that the Church must safeguard the integrity of her communion, remaining faithful to God’s commandments and the teaching received from Christ.

Today’s Gospel offers us clarity. By inviting people from the streets—both good and bad—Jesus shows that the Church must open her doors to everyone. No one is excluded from the invitation. But by casting out the man without the wedding garment, Jesus also teaches that God does not want those who enter His house to remain unchanged. He desires conversion. He desires transformation. The man without the garment was not expelled because he came in dirty—he was expelled because he refused to change.

God invites the good and the bad to come as they are, but He does not want the bad to remain as they are. He calls all of us to change—to remove the garments of sin and put on the attire of grace.

Therefore, those who choose lifestyles that contradict the moral and theological teachings of the Church are indeed invited. The Church welcomes them with love. But they should not expect the Church to change her doctrines to accommodate any lifestyle that contradicts the Gospel. Rather, God expects them—and all of us—to conform our lives to His Word.

Whoever refuses to remove the garment of sin and put on the garment of virtue risks losing his place at the eternal banquet.

So today, the Lord is asking each of us, "What garment are you wearing?” Are you wearing the garment of Christ? Or are you still clinging to the old clothes of sin?

The invitation has been sent. The feast is ready. The King is waiting. Let us remove the old garment. Let us put on Christ. And let us take our place at the eternal banquet where joy never ends.

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Sunday.

Fr, Isaac Chinemerem Chima

28TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FACE TO FACE WITH THE UNEXPECTED

(Matthew 22:1-14)

The Ben Johnson way was spotted out in the Gospel of today. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son. He sent his sons to call those invited for the marriage feast, but they would not come. He advertised all the menu prepared but they turned the invitation down. This is annoying!

Imagine yourself as a mother. After preparing your child's favourite meal for him, he rejects your food but chooses to enjoy junk elsewhere.

Well, the king, after ordering for the destruction of those who dishonoured him, gave an open invitation for as many as who wanted to partake in the feast. And so, the wedding hall was filled with guests.

 

DIVINE OBSERVATION AND EXPECTATION

People who host events make out time to go around and greet their guests, to exchange pleasantries with those who honoured the invitation. God looks around; He looks into the group; He comes to have a personal touch with all those called by His name. He comes to admire you. He comes to appreciate His image in you. He wants to single you out and be proud of you like Job. He wants to announce to the world how special you are. He wants the angels and men to sing the praise of your commitment to His will. It is his will that you be in the state of grace always. He wants to see you shining and glowing in light, living like the child of light that you are. The king looked around, continued to look around, and...

 

THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENED

He saw a man who had no wedding garment. This was a great shock to Him. This was an insult to Him. These are the lowliest of men who should realize the exalted position of the king and their unworthiness to be part of the feast, who should put themselves together in order to appear before the king. The others have theirs. Could it be that the king also made available the wears to them or informed them of the common garment for the occasion? Yes.

Then God wonders what was the issue. Did he sell the garment? Did he exchange it? Did he stain it? Why appearing without the garment? 

 

The king asked him: Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. He had the intention to deceive. He wanted to fool the king. He chose the Ben Johnson way. He was punished for it. You will certainly be held accountable for playing God and dribbling the people of God. You will not always succeed in meandering. God is still God. Yes, you will be speechless because you never believed in the day of reckoning.

 

TAKE-HOME QUESTIONS

Why rig yourself into a position that is not yours?

How did you enter that office?

How did you make your way into that man/woman's heart?

How did you obtain that ticket? How did you get that admission? How did you get that promotion? How did you win that contract? How did you get that so-called good job?

 

Painful Truth

You will get out the way you entered. You will be humiliated if you fail to do the needful. You will lose the kingdom of God if you do not enter it by the way of life Jesus expects from you.

You may deceive humans but not God. You can't hide from God; "Ipughi izonari ya Chineke

Mgbe I na ekpuchi mmehie gi, chee na o dighi onye na ahu gi, I pughi izonari ya Chineke."

Because "Chineke mazuru, Dinwenu mazuru, o dighi ihe gbara ya gharii n'ezie, Chineke mazuru."

 

SOLUTION: GET YOUR GARMENT

During our baptism we received the white garment. It is a very symbolic act. We are called to be transparent, pure and holy. We are called to be undefiled. We were clothed with that garment to continue maintaining it and putting it on. But when we fall, we heed the voice of God and clothe ourselves still with it through reconciliation.

Inasmuch as the gate of heaven has been opened for us through the death and resurrection of Christ, which we share in through our baptism, we should endeavour not to misuse the opportunity we have received.

We should guard against the questions that will keep us dumbfounded when we stand face-to-face with our heavenly king.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We pray You Lord God to save us from hidden faults and eternal shock of being thrown out from Your sight because of filth and corruption. Grant that we may not take Your invitation to holiness for granted through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (28th Week, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O. Ekeh

 27^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: DIVINE EXPECTATIONS VS HUMAN LIMITATIONS

(Matthew 21:33-43)

The Gospel Reading of today presents God as a householder who planted a vineyard and gave it all the necessary requirements to bloom and be fruitful.

We see a God who has given in what He should give to make man useful and productive. Just as every farmer expects to reap sweet produce from his farm, just as every father expects to enjoy the fruit of his labour, just as everyone expects profit from his work, so God comes in anticipation of being made glad by his creatures. What does he find?

The vine keeping demands creativity, time, patience, and effort. God, our creator, put in a lot of spiritual, physical, and passionate energy in the act of creating us. Something went out of him, really. He spent Himself in making man like Himself. He made Him a paradise, a garden, a vineyard, but chose Him as His special vineyard. This is interesting. Little wonder time and again, He never stops visiting to interact with Adam and Eve.

Sadly, when on that day He visited to see how Adam and Eve were doing and found them not bearing fruit but losing fruits having plucked the fruit of disobedience. It was not funny for God.

Just as man in Adam disappointed God and responded, "I am naked," in Cain, he disappointed and said: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Man in the brothers of Joseph betrayed him and sold him to slavery. Yet God formed them as a people in Egypt. From there, He uprooted them and planted them like a vine on his holy mountain. He was their protector and shepherd. In growing wild instead of docile to the vine owner, they severally were exiled. God continued sending them prophets as their vinedresser, but they enjoyed being wild.

In their wildness, they killed the different servants sent to care for them. Yet, God sent His son, saying, "They will obey my son." But him they also killed.

Is God wrong to expect good from us? Is He expecting too much? Oh no! He created us good and wants us to bear good fruits. But man chose evil over the good. He wants us to taste sweet, but a lot of things in us make us sour. He wants us to be life-giving, but we choose to be poisonous. The Lord created us to be lights, but we recreate ourselves to be darkness. He wants us to listen to Him just as He comes to listen to us. But we turn away from Him. In His love and tender mercy, He still picks us up to reinstate us. This is how much He loves us. 

As we wander, Jesus wonders: what have I not done for you? Why have you chosen to bear no fruit? Why are you straying away? Why do you want to remain adamant in your evil ways?

 

BE FRUITFUL

God wants you to be fruitful in your family. Be useful in your place of work. Be a good child of your parents. Be a good keeper of His commands. Take His word to heart. Bear fruits of holiness, peace, and charity.

Remove bitterness. Do you think you can't make it again? The word of God says you can. The Lord will not reject you. Do not withdraw your hands from what He offers you. Surprise those who think you have been lost. Surprise the devil who has made you believe that you can't rise again. Have you been rejected and seen as fruitless? The Lord is saying today that you will be a cornerstone. You will be like that stone that the builder rejected, which has become the cornerstone. May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

May the Lord be satisfied with us and satisfy us with His good things through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (27th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 27^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: A Call to Bear Good Fruits for God

Readings: Is 5:1–7; Phil 4:6–9; Mt 21:33–43

Dear friends, we live in a world where sidelining God and His will in the management of what He created has become common practice. Many people want to treat God’s creation according to their own desires rather than according to God’s purpose. This disregard affects both the human person and the natural environment. Our bodies, our gifts, our relationships, and the resources of the earth are often used without reference to the One who entrusted them to us. Greed, carelessness, and a growing insensitivity toward creation have become the order of the day.

In today’s liturgy, the Church reminds us that the God who created both humanity and nature has a purpose for everything He made. He has entrusted His creation to us, and He will demand an account of how we have cared for what He placed under our responsibility.

The similarity between the parable in the first reading from Isaiah and the parable Jesus tells in the Gospel is striking. Both beautifully describe how the owners of the vineyards invested great effort and care in preparing their farms. Isaiah tells us that the vineyard was planted on fertile land; the owner dug it, cleared it of stones, planted the choicest vines, built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine vat. In the Gospel, Jesus describes a householder who planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a watchtower before leasing it to tenants.

With such careful preparation, no one would expect anything less than a rich harvest. Naturally, when we invest heavily in a project, we hope for a result that corresponds to our effort. It was therefore heartbreaking that, at harvest time, both vineyard owners received the opposite of what they had laboured for. In Isaiah’s parable, the vineyard produced sour grapes. In Jesus’ parable, the landowner received insults, violence, and the killing of his servants and even his son, instead of the fruits of the vineyard.

Both masters were deeply disappointed by what they received in return for their investment. Their reaction was understandable: they took drastic action against the vineyard and, in Jesus’ parable, against the tenants who betrayed their trust.

Prophet Isaiah tells us that the vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. Indeed, God invested so much in forming and sustaining Israel as His chosen people. To raise Israel as a nation, God acted powerfully on their behalf: He humbled mighty nations, opened paths where none existed, and secured a homeland for them. We recall the plagues that struck Egypt to set Israel free (Exodus 8–14), and the displacement of nations that opposed Israel during their journey—the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8), the Canaanites (Josh. 1), Jericho (Josh. 6), Ai, the Amorites, Jabin, the Jebusites, and the many kings listed in Joshua 12.

With such immense investment, God expected fruits of loyalty, obedience, love, peace, justice, and true worship from Israel. But instead, Israel produced fruits that dishonoured His name. Isaiah laments: “He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry.” The same disappointment appears in Jesus’ parable: instead of giving the landowner the fruits of the vineyard, the tenants killed his servants and even his son. What a grave betrayal.

In the same way, dear friends, God has invested so much in each of us. He has endowed us with dignity, gifts, abilities, and unique beauty—physical, spiritual, and intellectual. Everything we are is a grace. But every grace carries responsibility.

To our dear women and men, young and old: God has blessed you with gifts that others may not have—strength, intelligence, creativity, charm, health, opportunities, and talents. These gifts are not for vanity, pride, or sin. They are meant to bear fruits that glorify God.

So, we must ask ourselves these questions: What fruits am I producing with the gifts God has given me? Do my choices honour the One who created me? Do my actions lead others toward God or away from Him?

For some, the temptation may be to misuse physical attractiveness or personal charm in ways that lead others into sin. For others, the temptation may be to misuse strength, intelligence, or influence for violence, cultism, fraud, or other social vices. Still others may misuse opportunities, wealth, or education in ways that harm rather than heal.

But the truth remains that to whom much is given, much will be required. God has invested so much in making you who you are. He expects fruits that correspond to His generosity. If we fail to give Him the fruits He deserves, we risk becoming like the vineyard that produced sour grapes or the tenants who betrayed their master.

Let us therefore examine our lives and return to God with hearts ready to bear good fruits—fruits of justice, purity, compassion, integrity, and true worship.

Furthermore, in the Gospel reading, Jesus says, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Dear friends, whenever we depart from the will of God in the way we handle the gifts He has given us, we cast out the cornerstone—the stone that holds our house firm—from our lives. Without God at the centre, it becomes difficult for our house to withstand the storms of life. God is the stronghold of our existence. When we reject His will and His vision in the way we treat our bodies, our relationships, and our environment, failure becomes inevitable.

Therefore, let us stop harming our bodies; let us stop misusing the resources of the world; let us instead dedicate ourselves to discovering—or rediscovering—the will of our Creator and following it faithfully in all we do.

Today’s Gospel also reminds us that we are merely guardians of everything we possess. Just as the tenants were placed in charge of the vineyard by the landowner, God has placed us in charge of the resources of the world, our talents, our opportunities, and even our physical and spiritual gifts. The true owner of all we claim as ours is God.

Just as the landowner in Jesus’ parable sent his servants and finally his son to remind the tenants to render an account, God sent many prophets—and ultimately His Son—to the house of Israel to call them to repentance. We know how they responded. In our own time, God continues to send His priests to remind us that we must give an account of everything placed under our care.

Let us not mistake God’s patience for weakness. Israel made that mistake, and they paid dearly in 721/722 BC and again in 587 BC. Let us learn from their history. Let us begin preparing our account book today, because tomorrow may be too late.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 26th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

THEME: OPTION FOR GOD REQUIRES CORRESPONDING ACTIONS

Readings: Ezek 18:25–28; Phil 2:1–11 (or Phil 2:1–5); Mt 21:28–32

Dear friends, the profession of faith in God which we made on the day of our baptism—and which we continue to make at Mass and in our daily prayers—is very important and necessary. However, this profession of faith alone is not sufficient to lead us to heaven if it is not supported by corresponding actions. It is, therefore, possible that someone who has chosen to follow and serve God may still fail to enter the Kingdom of God on the last day. It is also possible that a person whose initial choices and actions showed a rejection of God may, in the end, enter heaven. What matters greatly for eternal life are the choices and actions that are active at the moment of a person’s death. Today’s readings teach us the real possibility of these situations.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents a clear example of a change of heart that transforms an initial decision. The first son in the parable initially refused to obey his father, but later experienced a change of heart that reversed his bad decision; in the end, he did his father’s will. The second son began well, saying “yes”, but along the way had a change of heart that led him from good to bad; he failed to carry out his father’s will. In other words, he did not follow his good initial choice with good actions.

Neither son is perfect, because a perfect son would be the one who says “yes” at the beginning and remains faithful until the end. Nevertheless, the first son—who began with a “no” but later repented and did his father’s will—is better than the second son, who began with a “yes” but did not follow through.

Jesus uses the image of the second son to represent the Pharisees and other leaders of Israel, who were regarded as righteous. The image of the first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes, the publicly known sinners of the community. The purpose of the parable is to give a wake‑up call to the Pharisees and elders.

On one hand, the parable teaches that the privileged position of the Pharisees and elders as leaders of God’s chosen people does not guarantee them entry into the Kingdom of God. If they continue to disobey God’s will and refuse His call to repentance, they will not enter heaven.

On the other hand, it teaches that the tax collectors and sinners—despised because of their sins—will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God if they repent sincerely and obey God. A genuine change of heart opens the door to salvation.

As Christians, we said “yes” to the will of God at baptism, and we continue to renew this “yes” through our daily profession of faith. In doing so, we make a fundamental option for God. However, this “yes” will not save us if we do not live according to it by doing God’s will in our daily lives. Heaven will not be ours if we say “yes” before God and then say “no” to His will when we are with our friends. If we continue to take the mercy of God for granted, those we refer to as sinners—those who do not come to Church—may be better than us on the day of judgment. Whenever we model our lives in ways that contradict our Christian calling and faith, we change the fundamental option we once made for God.

Therefore, today we are called to allow the “yes” we have said to God and before the Church to shape the concrete choices we make every day of our lives.

In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel presents a clear and sobering picture of the power of this change of heart. He invites us to consider what a shift from good to evil can do to our former good works for God and humanity. He teaches that if an upright man abandons his uprightness, turns to an evil life, and dies in that state, his former uprightness will be forgotten on the day of judgment. He will be judged instead for the evil he embraced after abandoning the good.

Conversely, if a wicked man renounces his wickedness, begins to do good, and dies while doing good, his former wickedness will be forgotten on the day of judgment.

We certainly do not want God to forget all the good we have done in life on the day of judgment.

Dearest friends, the prophet Ezekiel is telling us that the option that is active on the last day of our lives will determine where we will go. Although it is wonderful to decide to follow God from the beginning of our lives, the final decision—whether for Him or against Him—is decisive on the day of judgment. However, this is not a call to wait until the last days of our lives to abandon evil and begin doing good, nor is it an invitation to postpone our decision to follow God. It is clear that we do not know when the last days of our lives will come. Let us remember that for some people, the last day arrived at age 10; for others, at 20, 30, 50, 70, or beyond.

Rather, today’s message is a call to decide for God now, and to accompany that decision with good actions from the beginning of our lives until the end. In the second reading, Saint Paul urges us to accompany our decision to follow God with a life of humility, placing others before ourselves. All of us who have said “yes” to God must remain steadfast in doing good until the end.

The prophet Ezekiel also reveals the power of God’s mercy. We have a God who is ready to forgive us and wipe away the guilt of our sins—even if we turn to Him on the last day of our lives. Therefore, let no one think he is too stained or too far gone to return to God; no sin is too great for God to forgive. The merciful heart of God is calling us to make this change of heart, to abandon our evil ways, and to begin the journey back to Him. He will erase our evil past and open a new page for us.

Let us join the Psalm of today in saying, “Remember your compassion and your love are from of old, O Lord. The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not; in your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.”

May you have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 26^th Sunday, Year A: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

Theme: Nkwudosike: Living true to promises

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 28-32

Jesus in the Gospel of today uses a parable of two sons to address the issue of infidelity of the chief priests and the elders of the people. They are represented by the son who agreed to go and work in the vineyard but did not eventually go whereas the other who refused going later went.

Let us reflect on "living true to promises". We make promises on daily basis to God and to our fellow men. In our Baptism we make decisive promise to God. The post baptismal song reminds us this promise: E kwerem nkwa n'ụbọchi Baptism, na agam efe Chukwu n'elu ụwa, na agam ege nti n'okwu nke nzukọ, na agam ajụ otito nke ajo mmụọ; Nyelụm aka O Maria ka m wee n'eme ihem kwere na nkwa, nyerem aka O Maria, kam wee n' eme ihe m kwere na nkwa.

After the promises what next? In our relationship with God, we are often confronted by "Broken vows and frequent falls". Hence the song with this verse: "M kwechasia gi nkwa, wee nara gi, njọm abiakwa chupu gi n'obim oo, nkwa asi nile a na ewutem karia, gbanweenum, ka m kwudosie ike".

What is it that makes us unable to stand firm on our promise? What can make us successful in keeping our promises? It is "Nkwudosike".

 

Nkwudosike in doing good

Nkwudosike is standing firm, the power to say and mean, and to mean before embarking. It has to do with strong will. It involves consistency in virtue. It means standing strong on one's ground.

Nkwụdosike is best applied to the good. You cannot talk of it via negativa. It will be a negation to talk about nkwudosike in evil. You can't insist on evil. You shouldn't be consistent on evil pedestal. Little wonder why the other son who said no to God later realized himself and said yes. It will be disastrous to disappoint God after saying yes to him. But how often do we do that? What are the good things you've been doing or you have agreed to do? Don't stop doing them. That calls for conviction.

 

Nkwụdosike as conviction

Making a promise and keeping to promises made requires conviction to a greater extent. It is not a thing you rush into: Maka na oke ji ọsọ gbaba n'ọnụ na ejikwa ọsọ agbapụta (A rat that rushed into a hole will surely rush out of it)

Saying 'yes' or 'no' should not be done in a haste. It calls for meditation and contemplation.

 

Our yes and no

Everything we do is punctuated by yes and no. Standing by it matters a lot. Definitely there are occasions that call for yes and others that call for no. You may have agreed to say yes, evaluate that yes of yours. You may have said no still evaluate it whether it is the right answer.

You said yes to God in baptism and in choosing to be a Christian. Are you truly living as one?

Before God and host of witnesses you said yes to your husband/wife. Are you still living on the path of yes? You said yes that you will save lives as a medical doctor, how far with that oath? You promised to serve, protect the right and dignity of the human person in the spirit of rule of law as a politician, how well are you doing that? You promised that young girl marriage, why did you disappoint her? You promised to keep that secret he or she shared with you, why did you divulge it?  You promised to raise those children in the fear of God, what happened along the way? Let us keep to our words.

 

When to say no

Our yes to God should be permanent. But our mistaken yes should be reconsidered. How often have we said yes wrongly?  Have you said yes to go against God's will for you? Have you been paid to kill and you agreed? Can you say no today? Have you been convinced to kill that baby in your womb? Have a rethink and say no to that evil plan. Learn how to say yes to do it right and no to whoever wants you to do it the wrong way.

It pays to be firm along the path of holiness, of obedience, of fidelity and everything good. May God bless us and help us to keep our promises to Him and our neighbours through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you (26th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O. Ekeh

 25th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Overcoming Envy: Building a Strong Christian Community

Readings: Is. 55:6-9; Phil. 1:20c-24.27a; Mt. 20:1-16

Dear friends, for the past three Sundays, Jesus has been teaching us how to build a better Christian community. Two Sundays ago, He gave us the task of fraternal correction. Last Sunday, He taught us to forgive those who offend us. This Sunday, He offers yet another beautiful theme for the good of our Christian community and for our personal wellbeing: a call to avoid envy and to recognize the needs of others. This theme is expressed in the parable of today’s Gospel. Therefore, if we desire a good Christian community, a happy family, and healthy relationships with friends and colleagues, we must avoid envy.

Frankly speaking, the parable in today’s Gospel can seem difficult to understand when we judge the landowner’s actions according to our human mentality or our usual standards of justice. For example, if we say the landowner was generous to the last group of workers, one might ask why he was not equally generous to the first group. After all, it is assumed that the first group did most of the work. From a purely human or social point of view, his action may not appear fair.

However, the key to understanding this parable is found in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah. It said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Is 55:9)

Friends, when we understand that what the landowner paid to the first group of workers was exactly what he had agreed with them — one denarius — we realize that he committed no offense against them. Their complaint was not that the landowner failed to honour the agreement, but that they received the same payment as those who were hired later. In truth, they would have been happy if the landowner had paid the late workers a smaller amount. That is precisely where envy entered. Their anger was not due to a breach of contract, but because the landowner showed generosity to those he wished to help.

Dear friends, in the time of Jesus, the daily wage of a Jewish worker was one denarius. Anything less would make it very difficult for the worker’s family to survive. So what the landowner gave to the late workers was a wage sufficient for their daily sustenance. He looked at their need, not at the amount of work they had done. Friends, this is how the love of God operates: God looks at our needs, not at our qualifications.

But for the first group of workers, the needs of the late workers did not matter. They would have preferred to see them receive less. Their joy would have been to watch the late workers go home with insufficient means for daily survival. Friends, envy blinds the hearts of those who harbour it, preventing them from seeing the needs of their neighbours and friends. It pushes them to desire the qualities, possessions, or advantages that belong to others at all costs. It drives them to seek greatness at the expense of others, and to pursue goodness only when it diminishes someone else.

An envious person is not happy when everyone is at their best or when everyone is doing well. He is uncomfortable when others are praised alongside him. He becomes disturbed when good things happen to others. He is only happy when the world revolves around him: he rejoices when he alone is the best; he enjoys rising while others are falling; he is pleased when he is the first to receive the good things of life; and as long as others remain less successful than he is, he has no problem.

Do we have people who behave this way in our Church or community? Do we have those who become angry when others make progress in their talents or businesses? Do we have those who are happy only when others are in difficulty? Do we have people who feel entitled to special favour? Do we have those who malign or speak ill of anyone doing better than they are? Such a way of life cannot be called Christian. Envy destroys good community life. Therefore, dear friends, Jesus invites us today to purge our hearts of envy if we truly want to build a strong and loving Christian community.

To those who struggle with envy, St Paul gives a clear invitation in today’s second reading: “Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” (Phil 1:27) And the first reading echoes the same call: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Is 55:7)

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Sunday

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima