Fresh Dew Media

 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