FROM THE PULPIT TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME REFLECTION BY FATHER BENOIT MUKAMBA, CSSp..
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FROM THE PULPIT
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 56: 6-9; Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20: 1-16a.
REFLECTIONS: Empathy and Justice
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp.
“Are you envious because I am generous?” The questions which we have just heard from the Gospel, reveal to us the real sentiments the workers who started in the morning felt, Envy and Jealousy. An envious person is resentful and unhappy because someone else has, or has achieved, what one would wish oneself to possess or achieve.
We need to draw a difference between these two very ardent emotions. Jealousy is when you worry someone will take what you have. Envy is wanting what someone else has. The jealous person does not appreciate one’s own gifts or strengths. He/she can only see the gifts that others have. A jealous person concentrates on trying to be like the other. An envious person remains consumed by one’s own emptiness and weaknesses. He/she hates other people for their gifts. Everybody is different. No two people are the same. We do not have the right to compare or contrast others to ourselves. Empathy helps us to overcome envy and jealousy in order to experience the joy and pain of the other person.
Empathy is compatible with justice. The landowner might have felt in the shoes of these poor bystanders-potential workers. These bystanders came to the road side to avail themselves for work but had not been lucky up until the eleventh hour when the landowner offered them the job. It was just right for them too to earn their daily wage. This kind of action is also good for the entire society, for peace and security. As joblessness may give occasion to robbery and public riots or demonstrations. The early workers would have seen the positive in the action of their employer, the landowner in the Gospel. The landowner’s kindness and empathy would have been understood as a precedence to what he would do in a similar case regarding these unhappy workers. The Christian reaction in such a case would be of rejoicing with the latecomers over the action of the landowner. A Christian would be thankful together with late workers toward the generous landowner. Apostle Peter rejoiced with the family of Cornelius over their reception of the Holy Spirit before their baptism (Acts 10: 44-47). “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears and acts uprightly is acceptable to him” (v. 34-35). Indeed, no one has an advantage over another Christian depending on the time of one’s calling or one’s nationality or location.
The parable of the landowner might have referred to the entry of Gentiles into the family of God just as the Israelites. Though the gentiles have been called late did not imply that less salvation for them. But all jews and gentiles called, receive the same measure of salvation.
This parable also applies to us today regarding our relationship with God and with one another. God loves cradle Catholics who practice their faith throughout their lives. God also loves those who respond to his call to salvation during the day and even in the evening. God rejoices in those who also respond to God’s mercy at the end of their lives. God loves the faithful son and embraces the prodigal son who returns home (Luke 15). It is a courageous act of humility to turn from a sinful life and believe in the Lord’s mercy. What matters is that they are at peace with God now. God loves Catholics who have grown since childhood in the faith, and he rejoices over the converts. We rejoice in those who join the faith or return to the faith. We don't consider ourselves better than them because we are all adopted children of God.
Love celebrates the gifts and achievements of other people. The celebration of love is the right and fitting praise to God the giver of all. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
