Homily – Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

“Father, can you please do this? Can you please get that?” Our pleasant office staff sometimes ask me to assist with some matters in the office.  Generally, I respond to these requests with enthusiasm, “sure, no problem” but often I will forget to follow through with their requests.  In these situations, I echo the words of our psalmist to our Lord but this time to my colleagues “remember your mercy!”

Ideally, it is best to respond to situations immediately by both word and deed.  Though I wonder practically, if we are more like one of the labourers mentioned in this weekend’s Gospel, either as the one who responds positively and then does nothing or we decline first only to change our minds and actions later.

This weekend’s parable highlights our freedom in light of pursuing or carrying out God’s will.  All of us possess that wonderful gift from God called freedom utilised in light of our multitude of choices or opportunities and we can see this in action simply by going to the supermarket.  Normally, our presbytery shopping list contains yoghurt and once we get to the supermarket aisle, we discover there are 80 kinds of yoghurt!  After selecting our preferred yoghurt (Chobani Light if anyone is curious), I remember I must buy a new toothbrush.  And once I get to the toiletry aisle, I discover again there are 50 kinds of toothbrushes for me to choose from!

Now, I’m exaggerating a little.  It’s good to have abundance and thankfully we live in a situation where we have multiple choices.  But does this many choices give us the most happiness?  According to modern day French writer Fr Jacques Phillipe, happiness is best found when we consent to the will of God.  Both labourers after their initial response were still required to use their freedom and choice to pursue God’s will but in the end, it is the worker who carries out the job that completes the Father’s will.

Many of us seek to do the Lord’s will.  We might resist initially but then something probes our conscience to change course.  Even then when we attempt to carry out God’s will, we can still fall short.  Actions speak louder than words but luckily God also sees the intentions of the heart.  This week may we be like that labourer in the vineyard using his freedom to carry out the will of God, even if it means we might fall short.

By Fr Ian Vergel