DAILY HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: Something about God’s Nature!
BY: Rev Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese).
HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17 2022
Ezek.34: 1-11; Matt. 20:1-16
You know, I’ve come across many in the Church who feel they are holier than everyone else because they were baptised and confirmed in the days of Fr Stone and Bishop Mcfish. These persons may feel God will reserve the most beautiful place in heaven for them because they’re long serving ‘veterans’ of the kingdom. Well, the gospel reading of today corrects that perspective. The landowner went out at daybreak, and made an agreement to pay the workers one denarius per day. They willingly agreed. He again went out to call more workers into his vineyard at the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour and the eleventh hour, respectively. He assured them he would pay them a fair wage. Guess what? In the end, he paid them the very same wage, starting from the last to the first. Was he unjust?
You see, God calls us at different times. Some may respond during the morning of their lives, some others as the day progresses. Others may decide to answer God’s call towards the evening. In fact, experience has shown that many decide to respond to God’s call just at the last minute, on their death beds. Does God reward this last group of persons less? No way! When life here is over, God rewards those of us who responded to His call with salvation – from those who came very late, to those who arrived early. This is God’s way, get used to it. Heaven is the only race that does not demand that we come in first to win. We only truly win when we all come to the finish line, the last as well as the first. Should we then delay in responding to His call? No. When you hear His voice, please respond, because today may be your last.
Good morning dear, God bless your day ahead.