Fresh Dew Media

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

THEME: GOD’S WILL FOR YOU, THAT YOU MAY NOT WASTE AWAY

(Matthew 20:1-16)

God’s ways differ from man’s ways. But man is called upon to pattern his ways according to Christ’s in whose image and likeness he is made, to seek and do his will always.

God is not man who segregates. He is a loving father. He looks out and thinks of what good to bestow on his children. He exposes each and everyone of them to opportunities to shine. He wants them all to win his favour. He does not want them to waste their day. He does not want them to idle away.

Thus, he goes out at different points of the day. And at each point He finds people in idleness and He sends them into His field.

Why are you wasting away child of God? Jesus wonders why you should not use the energy in you positively. Why are you wasting that talent making it latent? Why are you wasting the grace of God? Why are you wasting the grace of a father you have on sexual immorality? Why are you wasting your political acumen on corruption? Why are you wasting your intellectual resources on sex for marks? Why are you wasting your study time waiting for sorting time? Why are you wasting your maternal care on sugar boys? Why are you wasting your youth on sugar mommy and daddy? Why? Why? Why? Jesus asks you.

Now he says: “You go into the vineyard”. Start working for God. Be a responsible father, be a responsible mother, be a responsible Christian, and be a responsible child. Rise up now.

 

MORNING, NOON, EVENING: GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL

There are different moments of realization of God’s will and plan for individual persons. Thus there is room for early and even late vocations. I entered into the seminary as a boy of 12 years old just like Samuel in the Bible. But I came to find out in the senior seminary while I was still less than 20 years that some who got their vocations in their late thirties were my classmates.

God’s will for us all is good but time for realizing it may differ. Time for hearing God’s voice differs. In the gospel of today, some were called in the morning; these are persons who are focused at early moments of their life. They know what they want in life, they pursue their life goals, and they are sincerely making efforts that are in agreement with God’s plan for them.

The other group realize at the middle of the road that they too have something to offer. They stop being idle and begin to take life seriously. You can start enjoying that marriage after ten years when you must have started striking the right chords. You can start being serious in your second year in the university; you can abandon that bad group at the middle of the day. Some others are like Saint Augustine who said “late have I known you”. They are like the prodigal son who comes back to his senses after lavishing all. Stop working for nothing. Work for divine pay. Work for a high reward. Jesus will certainly reward you.

 

GOD REWARDS, TAKE YOURS AND GO

God’s will for you is also that you do not do negative comparison. “Chukwu abughi mmadu, mmadu abughi Chukwu” succeed at your pace and allow the other to succeed too. That you graduated first may not mean that you must get work first, that you married earlier does not mean you must get children first, that you are the richest does not mean you must be the wisest. Do not be sad at what God has blessed the other person with. Your own blessing and reward can never be taken by any other. Work well. God rewards. May you not waste away through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAPPY SUNDAY

(25TH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YEAR (A)

REV. FR. JULIAN O EKEH