Life is Not All about Competition; it is a Matter of Collaboration.

Homily for September 24, 2017)

There is a story I came across on social media recently. A lady asked her boss for permission to attend her sister’s wedding and he shouted: “Who will clear the files, who will do this and do that, you cant go…” She felt very sad but important.

Few weeks later, they lost a staff in the office and the boss called for a meeting. He told them to observe a minute silence and in less than 30 seconds, he broke the silence and said they could all go back to work. So she asked: “But who will clear the files, who will do his job and so on” the boss quickly responded: “Someone will resume tomorrow morning to take over his duties.”

Dear friends, this story not only introduces us to the theme of today’s homily, it also invites us to think seriously about life, about how we see ourselves and how important we think we are. There are two lessons we learn from this story:

One, NEVER LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS no matter their level in life and

Two, NEVER ENVY OTHERS, no matter how highly placed they seem to be in life.

As Jesus explains in today’s Gospel passage with the parable of the Generous Landowner, at the end of life, we shall all discover that none of us is more privileged than another. We don’t all have the same gifts but somehow we also do not all have the same challenges. I believe, God has a way of balancing the equation.

At the end of the day, those who started working earlier did not get a higher pay than those who came late. Perhaps those who started working earlier looked down on those who came late, they must have oppressed them, shouted and even laughed at them thinking they were more privileged.

In the same way, those who came late must have felt so intimidated with those who came earlier. They must have looked down on themselves wishing they were that lucky to have been selected for the work earlier. At the end of the day, it was clear that they were all equals.

As Christians, we must learn to grow above the notion of being BETTER than others. Once we begin to think we could be better than anyone at all, pride sets in, we then make ourselves little gods and as the Bible says: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

Again when we assume we are BETTER than others, we lock up our access to personal happiness. Yes, we cannot be happy when we indulge in competition with others. Do you notice a similarity between the reactions of the elder brother who refused to go into the house when the prodigal son returned and the men in today’s parable who were angry after being paid the agreed amount?

When we are so concerned about outshining others, when our spirituality is driven by a desire to prove to the world how good we are or how better we are than others, we end up just as bitter as these men or as the prodigal son’s elder brother. At the end of the day, we would be shocked and surprised that we are getting the same treatment as those we once condemned, judged and insulted in our hearts.

There is a story of a monk who resented the vow of celibacy but practised it diligently. When he died, he got to heaven and looked around only to find some of the people who lived so recklessly (morally speaking) in heaven. He was so angry that he approached God requesting for permission to return to the world to make proper use of his complete faculties.

The point, my dear friends is to keep God’s commandments, love God; serve God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul. Avoid sin not because you want to prove to others you are holy but because God said so. It is not about others. It should never be about others. Life is not a competition. On the last day, we shall all stand one by one before God.

Stop looking up to others as a yardstick for your spirituality. If people are not living right, help them live right by first living right yourself. As St. Paul would say in our second reading: “Christ will be honoured in my body whether by life or by death… let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” Preach with your life.

Never condemn others, be humble enough to realize that your holiness does not even depend on your power but on the GRACE of God. As to what would become of the so-called bad guys, the Prophet Isaiah today reminds us that “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” We only have one duty to “seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while we shall have the opportunity.”

Do you feel deep down within you that you have not been faithful to God? Are you depressed and seriously ashamed of your past? Do you feel you have gone too far from God or too deep in sin? My dear, let today’s message be your consolation. It is not how far but how well. If you heed the words of Isaiah today and repent, God will forget your past at once, give you a clean slate and who knows? You may get to heaven before me.

The Psalmist says: “The Lord is close to all who call on him.” What are you waiting for? It may be the last hour of the day but God like the generous land owner is still willing to recruit you into his vineyard. It is never too late to repent. If today you hear his word, harden not your heart. Don’t wait till tomorrow.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, rid me of my pride and envy and use me as your instrument in winning souls for you. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. Bible Study: Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:20-24.27 and Matthew 20:1-16)