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
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