25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept.

18, 2011 (Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20c-24,27a; Matthew 20:1-16a) In last Sundays reading from Paul to the Romans, we heard that None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.whether we live or die, we are the Lords. Today, Isaiah reminds us that we are not our own masters as he reflects on the difference between us and the Lord: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. We need constant reminders of the Lords supremacy as we progress in so many areas of human existence. Today we seem even to worship the technological creations we make for ourselves. There is little difference between this and the idolatry that was so roundly condemned in a bygone era, as an ancient people wandered through the wilderness of Sinai. It is small wonder Paul wants to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. That he remains is for the benefit of the Philippians, the first community Paul established in mainland Europe. Before this Paul had spent his time in the Middle East and in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). It is hard to say when he wrote this letter, but 57 or 58 AD seems to be a realistic time frame. Paul says that for him life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. That suggests Paul has an option. But the meaning of the Greek verb for to choose really means to prefer. Here, Paul is talking about his own possible life imprisonment, which would likely lead to his own death. On the other hand his fruitful labor has to do with preaching the Gospel and establishing small Christian communities like he had done in Philippi and elsewhere. So he is torn between wanting to go and be with Christ which would happen were he to die; or he could stay and keep on preaching the Gospel. Both things are good and Paul is simply acknowledging that fact. Since he has no say in whether he lives or dies (it is the Lords decision), he is alerting the Philippians to the real possibility of his death. The final sentence, Only conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ introduces a series of instructions to the community on the behavior Paul expects of them in his absence, because of their faith in Christ. Nothing could illustrate Isaiahs words (As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.) better than Matthews parable of the laborers in the Lords vineyard. All sense of fairness disappears when the laborers all receive the same wage no matter

how long (or short) they worked. Those who complained forgot that they got paid what they had agreed to. It is no injustice to them if the landowner pays others the same wage for less work. The story is befuddling, if we only look at the story from one point of view. Some suggest that getting in the crop was so important to the landowner that he was willing to pay those who worked less the same wage because their work assured getting in the whole crop. Theres no explaining the details of the parable. We are meant to ponder it as a whole and then we begin to understand.

Fr. Lawrence Hummer