25th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Justin Adiele

THEME: “YOU SHALL NEVER BE THE LAST; IF …”

INTRODUCTION

The gospel reading today tells us of the magnanimity of God who is willing to admit us all into his presence and into his mission work and still rich enough to reward us all handsomely and equally. God doesn’t really pay us by per hour metrics, or according to the efforts or time we put in. He appreciates and blesses our availability and our readiness to work for him. He knows what is good for all and freely and graciously gives it. He makes sure that no one is last nor left out in his scheme of charity and blessings. With God crossing our paths, we shall never be the last; and the readings tried to reveal what we must do to never be last nor left out.

THE FIRST READING (IS. 55: 6–9)

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that if we wish never to be last, then we must form the three habits of seeking the Lord, calling upon him in prayers, and forsaking our unrighteous ways. For the Lord’s mercy is abundant on those who seek him in righteousness. You shall never be last; you shall never be left out of favours; and you shall never be condemned if you truly seek God before anything else. (cf. Mt. 6:33).

THE SECOND READING (PHIL. 1: 20–24. 27)

In the second reading, St. Paul made us understand that if we wish never to be last in life or in death, then Christ must be honoured in our bodies; our manner of life must be worthy of the gospel of Christ. You shall never be the last if you honour God by living the life of the gospel. God would stake his grace and authority for you in great measure as he did with/for St. Paul and he was never considered the last or the least in the league of the Apostles.

THE GOSPEL READING (MT. 20: 1–16)

In the gospel reading, God showed himself as the only one who ensures that no one is last or treated as such. He is the good and benevolent master who sees the needs of all, who knows that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. If you make yourself available to him, if you work for him, you shall never be last. All those who accepted his offer, his commands, his assignments, his directives and his laws can never come last in the scheme of things.

CONCLUSION

You can never be last if you have God. It is God himself who is the author of the divine proposition that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (cf. Mt. 20: 16). God himself had already declared that; “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (cf. Rev. 22: 13). So, if you have God, you are automatically at the center of his grace, mercies, blessings and generosity. If you work for God, you shall never be last in receiving his favours. Make the sincere decision today to seek God and his righteousness, call upon him, honour him, and work for him even for just one hour in day; and you shall never be disappointed nor go empty handed.

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin.