OXYGEN

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My one hope and trust is that I shall never have to admit defeat, but that now as always I shall have the courage for Christ to be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. Life to me, of course, is Christ, but then death would bring me something more; but then again, if living in this body means doing work which is having good results-I do not know what I should choose. I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ, which would be very much the better, but for me to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need for your sake. Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come to you and see for myself, or stay at a distance and only hear about you, I shall know that you are unanimous in meeting the attack with firm resistance, united by your love for the faith of the gospel.

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Matthew 20:1 – 16

Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

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My thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways

One of the perils in working in an office environment is that of subordinates trying to second-guess the thoughts of one’s superior. My internship experience was filled with memories of trying to anticipate the instructions of my superior so as to avoid a tongue-lashing and embarrassment in the presence of other colleagues. Strangely enough, today’s readings seem at first glance to convey to us the same idea: that Man will never be able to interpret God’s plans for him.

The landowner paying the same wage to his workers regardless of the hours that they have worked in the vineyard puts many people off as it violates a sense of justice that most people are accustomed to. A friend of mine had even suggested that if that was the case, then he should have delayed the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism until his dying moments. I had to remind him that he would neither know the day nor the hour where that moment would appear. Nobody can challenge the plans of God but we can gain some insight into what the main objective is: Love.

St. Paul in the second reading tells us that he would rather be with Christ but chose to be alive so as to radiate the love of Christ within him to others. By making that choice, he fulfils what Prophet Isaiah mentions of the “…wicked man abandon[ing] his way”. From being an over-enthusiastic persecutor of Christians to a fervent Apostle of Christ to the gentiles, St. Paul represents the very example of how the generous love of God can lead to a radical transformation. With this in mind, let us open our hearts to the Spirit of God to enkindle in us this love that must be shared to the whole world.

(Today’s sharing by Nicholas Chia)

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Prayer: Lord, we ask that you enable us to listen to your voice and submit to your will.

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the many saints who have shown us the way of God’s love.

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Upcoming Readings:

Monday, 22 September – Proverbs 3:27-34, Luke 8:19-21
Tuesday, 23 September – Proverbs 21:1-6, Luke 8:19-21; Pio of Pietrelcina, priest
Wednesday, 24 September – Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6
Thursday, 25 September – Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Luke 9:1-6
Friday, 26 September -  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, Luke 9:18-22
Saturday, 27 September – Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8, Luke 9:43-45
Sunday, 28 September -Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32; Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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