The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092417.cfm)
reminds me that God's ways are very different from ours.
The first reading clearly says
that God's ways are different from ours.
For my
thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your
ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the
heavens are above the earth,
so high are my
ways above your ways
and my
thoughts above your thoughts.
There may be time, a lot of
them, that our plans do not seem to coincide God's plans for us. There are
times when What we want to happen is different from what God wants to happen.
On our perspective, our plans are better than God's. We plan things. We want
things to happen. We work for things. And when things do not go out way, we
just have to trust in God that his plans and his ways are way better than ours.
God is wiser
than us. He sees what we cannot.
In the gospel, we see an
example of this. God's ways are definitely not like ours. His is way better. He
is more generous and loving. Probably, others would think that it is unfair to
those who worked longer. but God does not think so. He is very generous and we
should be thankful, not envious. We will only feel envious if we focus too much on ourselves, if
we give ourselves too much credit, and if we want ourselves to be rewarded more
than what we actually deserve.
God's ways
are always better than ours. May this keep us in the right perspective, especially when
his plans and ours do not coincide.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank
you for another chance to rest and spend quality time with you. Sorry for the
times I am impatient to wait for your plans. Sorry for the times I am proud to
submit to your will. Help me be better. Help me trust in you more. Remind me of
your love. Today, May I spend quality time with you, not just in mass, but may
I take time to pray, read the bible, and just bask in your presence. As I do
so, I know that I will be more submissive and receptive of your ways and your
plans, for I will realize how wise, powerful and loving you are. Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflection:
September 24, 2017
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 133
Reading 1IS 55:6-9
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
Responsorial PsalmPS 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Reading 2PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
AlleluiaCF. ACTS 16:14B
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 20:1-16A
"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o'clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.'
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o'clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'
He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.'
When those who had started about five o'clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the heat.'
He said to one of them in reply,
'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
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