Dimensions of Discipleship – A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year

092014This is one of those parables that rock our world and our worldly way of thinking. And frankly, that is one of its purposes. We are tempted to side with the laborers who were hired first and who worked the longest. When we find out that they got paid the same as the men who only worked an hour the thought occurs to us that somehow this is unfair.

But, think very carefully before asking God to be “fair.” What we really should ask of God is that he be merciful. For if he were fair, we’d all be in Hell right now. The fact is, we have no innate capacity to stand before God in pure justice; we simply cannot measure up to that. It is only grace and mercy that will win the day for us. So be very careful about trying to play the fairness card on God. In fact, when we see Him being merciful to someone else, we ought to rejoice, for it also means that we might stand a chance.

There are other aspects of this Gospel that are important to learn from: the various dispositions of discipleship.  As the parable unfolds, we can see five teachings. Let’s look at each of them in turn.

I. The AVAILABILITY of Discipleship – The text says, A landowner went at dawn to hire laborers to work in his field … He went later and found others standing idle … “Why do you stand here all day idle?”

Now it is clear that what we have described here are “day workers.” These were men who stood in public places hoping to be hired for the day. It was and still is a tough life. If you worked, you ate; if you didn’t, you’d have little or nothing to eat. They were called day laborers because they were hired on a day-to-day basis, only when needed. This is a terrible form of poverty for its uncertainty and instability.  Men like these were and are the poorest of the poor.

But note how their poverty, their hunger, makes them available. Each morning they show up and are ready, available to be hired. Their poverty also motivates them to seek out the landowner and indicate that they are ready and willing to work. The well-fed and the otherwise employed do not show up; they are not available. There’s something about poverty that makes these men available. Because their glass is empty, it is able to be filled.

But we are these men. We are the poor who depend on God for everything. Sometimes we don’t want to admit that, but we are. And every now and then it is made plain to us how poor, vulnerable, and needy we really are. And this tends to make us seek God. In our emptiness, poverty, and powerlessness suddenly there is room for God. Suddenly our glass, too often filled with the world, is empty enough for God to find room. And in our pain we stand ready for God to usher us into the vineyard of His kingdom. An old gospel song says, Lord, I’m available to you, my storage is empty and I am available to you. It is our troubles that make us get up and go out with the poor to seek the Lord and be available to Him. When things are going too well, Lord knows where we are to be found! Another gospel song says, Lord don’t move my mountain but give me the strength to climb it. Don’t take away my stumbling blocks but lead me all around. ‘Cause Lord when my life get a little too easy you know I tend to stray from thee.

Yes, we might wish for a trouble-free life, but then where would we be? Would we seek the Lord? Would we make ourselves available to God? Would we ever call on Him at all?

II. The AUTHORITY of Discipleship – The text says, The LandOWNER said, “Go into my vineyard” … HE sent them into HIS vineyard.

Notice that it is the landowner who calls the shots. Too many who call themselves the Lord’s disciples rush into His vineyard with great ideas and “biggie-wow” projects that they have never really asked God about. But this passage teaches us that entrance into the vineyard requires the owner’s permission. If we expect to see fruits (payment for the work) at the end of the day, we have to be on the list of “approved workers.”

Fruitful discipleship is based on a call from the Lord. Scripture says, Unless the Lord builds the House, they that labor to build it labor in vain (Ps 127:1). Too many people run off and get married, take new jobs, accept promotions, start projects, and so forth without ever asking God.

But true discipleship requires the Lord’s call first: “Go into my vineyard.” Got a bright idea? Ask God first. Discern His call with the Church and a good spiritual director, guide, or pastor.

III. The ALLOTMENT of Discipleship – The text says, The vineyard owner came at dawn, 9:00 AM, Noon, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM.

We may puzzle as to why God calls some early and others late; it’s none of our business. But he does call at different times. And even those He calls early, He does not always ask to do everything right now. There is a timing to discipleship.

Moses thought he was ready at age 40, and in his haste he murdered a man. God said, “Not now!” and made him wait until he was 80.

Sometimes we’ve got something we want to do but the Lord says, “Not yet.” And we think, “But Lord, this is a great project and many will benefit!” But the Lord says, “Not yet.” And we say, “But Lord, I’m ready to do it now!” And the Lord says, “Not yet.”

Sometimes we think we’re ready, but we’re really not. An old gospel song says, God is preparing me. He’s preparing me for something I cannot handle right now. He’s making me ready, just because he cares. He’s providing me with what I’ll need to carry out the next matter in my life. God is preparing me. Just because he cares for me. He’s maturing me, arranging me, realigning my attitude. He’s training me, teaching me, tuning me, purging me, pruning me. He’s preparing me.

IV. The ABIDING of Discipleship – The text says, When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to the foreman, “… summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.”

Notice that the wages are paid in the evening and in the order determined by the landowner (God). The lesson is simple: we’ve got to stay in the vineyard. Some people start things but do not finish them. But if you’re not there at six o’clock, no pay.

Scripture says that we must persevere. Jesus says, But he who perseveres to the end will be saved (Mat 24:13). We also read, To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life (Rom 2:7). And again, You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Heb 10:36).

Yes, we must work till evening comes. Saying that we had faith and received all our sacraments when we were young will not suffice. We have to work until evening. An old spiritual says, Some go to Church for to sing and shout. Before six months they’s all turned out. How about you?

V. The ATTITUDE of Discipleship – The text says, Those hired first grumbled … “We bore the heat of the day and burdens thereof.”

Notice how the early workers think of their entrance into the vineyard and its labors as a “burden.” Of course the vineyard is really the Kingdom of God. And it remains true that many lukewarm “cradle Catholics” consider the faith to be a burden and think somehow that sinners “have all the fun.” Never mind that this is completely perverse thinking; it is held by many anyway, whether consciously or unconsciously.

But consider the laborers hired last. Were they having a picnic? Not exactly. Most were resigning themselves to the fact that they and their families would have little or nothing to eat that night. Similarly, most sinners are not “living the life of Riley.” Repeated and life-long sin brings much grief: disease, dissipation of wealth, regret, loss of family, addiction, and so forth. No matter what they tell you, sinners do not have all the fun.

Further, being a Christian is not a burden. If we accept it, we receive a whole new life from Christ: a life of freedom, purity, simplicity, victory over sin, joy, serenity, vision, and destiny.

How do you view the Christian life? Is it a gift, a treasure beyond compare no matter its difficulties? Or is it a burden, a bearing of labor in the heat of the day? Scripture says, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. The passage goes on to describe our “works” not as burdens but as something God enables us to do: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:8-10).

So here are five dispositions of discipleship, which the Lord teaches in this parable.

Note well what the Lord teaches, for too often we want to decide what it means to be a disciple. Beware, for the worst kind of disciple is the one who gets out ahead of the Lord and tries to define his or her own role. Jesus is Lord; let Him lead. So, some final questions for you: Are you a disciple who is glad at being called, and the earlier the better? Or are you like the disciples who grumbled at having to do all the work in the heat of the day? Is discipleship delightful or dreary for you?

This song says, “I’m available to you…” And it reminds us that the owner of the vineyard still seeks souls to enter His vineyard. He wants to use your voice to say to someone: “You, too, go into my vineyard!”

12 Replies to “Dimensions of Discipleship – A Homily for the 25th Sunday of the Year”

  1. Thank you Monsignor for putting some light in this sunday’s reading. I always was a little puzzelled by it. It was because of my worldly view. You know so many beautiful gospel hymns, I find most of the lyrics very inspiring. By their simplicity (not in a negative way) they move us from within. Now I want to search and learn more about them.

  2. My father, who was a master carpenter, observed that those hired early in the day had the joy of working with the Master all day. If you ever have had the chance to work with someone who is a master of their craft, you know how delightful that is. Just working with them is a joy as they know their craft so well. Work comes in different forms. Being with a leader who helps us become better is a joy.

  3. Yay. Thanks again, Msgr. What ever happened to the sense that we don’t deserve anything from God – that he made us out of pure love, that we continue to exist because of His love, and that He’ll call us home from this pilgrimage (or exile, to harken to one of your earlier posts) when He’s ready? Is it our plush, comfortable lives that distract us? Is it our entitlement mentality? What ever happened to the oft-heard response of yester-year, “life aint fair, kid?” But, as you say, that doesn’t mean life has to be miserable! As you beautifully note: “Further, being a Christian is not a burden. If we accept it, we receive a whole new life from Christ: a life of freedom, purity, simplicity, victory over sin, joy, serenity, vision, and destiny.” But, I understand that it’s a terrifying prospect when there are so many shiny objects along the way of which we don’t want to let go. And the most terrifying prospect is that interior “letting go.” And in the midst of letting go – when we’re still viewing things from the temporal lens, not the eternal lens – it can be burdensome (and, shamefully) bothersome – and sometimes quite messy. It can be painful and frightening, but KEEP GOING because that whole new life is waiting, it really is. SURRENDER! Thanks again, Msgr.

  4. Yes, I agree, I’ve learned a lot from your explanation of this reading. I especially appreciate your fifth point, about our attitude to discipleship.

  5. Thank you, Monsi for such a profound homily. Yes, we always ask the wrong question, Why? This could be the reason why GOD would not answer. How small is our perspective that GOD is stingy in HIS blessings because we want more. More of what we desire. Yet, when we ask what is HIS desire that is when the lights go light up for we see HIS infinite generosity. Just read the parable of the talents, the parable of the prodigal son, this parable of vineyard workers, and the parable of the sower. These all speak of the tremendous love and mercy of GOD for HIS people. HE wants us to multiply HIS blessings to others that it will multiply unto us. We must then ask the question, Why not? for then, we begin to see the forest and the horizon and as such see the bountiful beauty, goodness, justice and mercy, and of course, love of GOD. As Fr. Robert Baron said in his homily, it is not a mercenary worker that GOD wants but a worker who gives his all out of love to the Landowner (who is GOD). YHWH ELOHIM ADONAI!!!

  6. “Yes, we might wish for a trouble-free life, but then where would we be? Would we seek the Lord? Would we make ourselves available to God? Would we ever call on Him at all?”

    This really hit home, because I know the answers to those questions (for me, anyway). I was one of those lukewarm “cradle Catholics” you mentioned in the blog. I led a relatively trouble-free life until about 15 years ago. I didn’t seek the Lord; I didn’t make myself available to Him; I didn’t ever call on Him. When I was at the nadir of my life, in the midst of a 10+ year period of intense personal crisis brought on by my husband’s repeated infidelity, I finally realized that God was the only way out. And He picked me up and helped me to find the way out. And hard as it is to believe, despite the havoc wreaked on me and my family, I can honestly say that I am the better for it all. Now I do seek the Lord; now I do make myself available to Him. And now I do call on Him—every day!

    Patty

    P.S. My husband and I are still married—nearly 30 years now.

    1. Beautiful, Patty! My wife forgave me of my stupid infidelities and I came to wonder and acutely understand of how GOD forgives the sinners. She accepted me hook, line and sinker with no reservations in my stupidest unworthiness and it dawned on me this must be how GOD Loves each of us. I threw HIM all the smelly and filthy garbage of personal sinfulness and still HE sees in me a fragrant lovely aroma of a blood red rose and glistening polished diamond. I am not worthy of such treatment. I felt and saw GOD in my wife. By the way, we are very much married going 38 years and I now serve as SMHC to the sick and shut-ins. I pray for your husband, may he realize The Rose of Sharon and The Pearl of Great Price in you. GOD Bless you, Patty! Love is the greatest gift of all.

  7. Thank you too for the writeup and prayers , also for many who pray for the readers ;

    had always felt a bit uneasy about the sort of jarring words towards the complaining early workers at the end of the parable , only to realise now that this parable too has lot to do with the Father’s Heart ;

    that first batch negotiated the wages with the master, whereas the subsequent ones go in without same , possibly grateful and trusting , in the goodness of a Master who came looking for them ;

    thus , through them , the Master showing us too , how our hearts also need to enter into trusting in the goodness of the Father , instead of focusing on what we might have done .

    One theme in the book on deliverance ( Fr.Carl Schmidt ) is how the core wound of many is lack of father love , which , in turn often leads to pride and its sinful choices , such as envy, hatred , control contempt issues , worsened by ancesral bonds from those who too might have made choices to destroy what is holy .

    The seeming retort by the master to the complaining bunch can be thus seen as an effort to break them away from the hardness of hearts and ingratitude which made them loose focus on the good heartedness of the master towards those others who too needed a daily wage and from gratitude that in spite of some heat of the day , they had the security of knowing they were in the right place !

    The temptation from the evil one, to destroy what is holy , is thus seen in rebellion against the relationship with the Father and Mother Church , in just and truthful relationships in familes , between persons , even the destructive use of time , for the passing pleausres of the world .

    We are also dealing with large flashes of the efforts to destroy what is holy , such as the planned event in Okl . city and in the hatred and violence of groups such as ISIS or the more pervasive insidious acts and choices , in the culture of death , the related mindset of hatred towards father dignity and identity, the militant mindset to get everyone to agree with same !

    May the intercession of our Holy Mother help many hearts to be filled with Father love , in turn only yearning for same for more hearts , with grateful appreciation for many who labor in the vineyards ;

    may even those who might have missed waiting in the corners ( from being in the emptiness of the cheap and passing substitue love of party halls ) be moved to look for and work in the right place and relationship with The Father !

  8. The first will be last and the last will be first, from a human point of view, Unfair, God loves everyone but especially the lame duck

  9. +Thank you so much for this sharing Monsignor . . . it will take several more readings for my poor soul to absorb and reflect upon the . . . multitude , , , of wonderful . . . “truths” . . . you have gathered together for our reflection for this day . . . Your hard work of prayerful preparation for each day’s entries is much appreciated . . . and the picture accompanying this entry is exquisite . . .

    “Glory be to the Father . . . and to the Son . . . and to the Holy Spirit . . . as it was in the beginning . . . is now . . . and . . . ever . . . shall be . . . world without end . . . Amen . . . +

    God bless,

    . . . all or Jesus+

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