Don Bosco Philippines South Province

‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’. Mt 20:1-16a

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A

It is often said that the grass of the neighbor across the fence is always greener. But if we keep looking at our neighbors, we would always see something better which they have that we don’t. This may be true sometimes but if we do this often, we would miss seeing the good that we have which our neighbor might even envy in us.

Thus, the best thing to do is to look more frequently at ourselves to discover our gifts from God and use them. And there is a lot that God gave us. We must not aspire for the talents that God did not give us for there is always a reason why God deprives us of the talents He has otherwise given to others.

Remember God did not create us equal or the same. We are made different and unique from one another. And whatever uniqueness God gave only to us is enough and never too little for us to be happy. Whatever we have from Him is never too little or too much but just right.

Therefore, God is just. But His justice is not fair as we humans would think of justice. For the Lord, Isaiah speaks:” 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.” Is 55:6-9

Yet God is just in punishing the wicked and rewarding the good. But unlike us, He keeps the door open to those who repent of their evil ways even at the latest hour. He is much like the owner of the vineyard who still hired the “lazy bums” for one hour and paid them a whole day’s wage.

Heaven is big and there is room for all. It is God’s Kingdom where He is free to welcome whoever He thinks could enter. Even the latecomers could enter heaven.

At this point recall the dream of Don Bosco where he witnessed many boys offering bouquets to Mary. Many youths offered the purest lilies. Like Dominic Savio, they are those who never sullied purity in life. Yet countless too were those who offered violets. They are those who regained innocence after repenting of losing them through sin.

Pope Damasus was criticized by his own clergy when he welcomed back to the church those who lapsed in fleeing away from martyrdom. Fortunately for us, God’s justice is never fair in man’s eyes.

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