What God is greater than our God?
Who has greater love for his people than our God?
What can surpass the promise of salvation our God makes to us?
The Apostle Paul reminds us that:
“No eye has seen
Nor ear heard
Nor human heart conceived,
What God has prepared for those who love him”
What greater gift can we expect from God than Eternal Life in Heaven with Him?
God’s gift is for all his children, not just for a select few. God shares his gift of Eternal Life with all; it’s not first come – first served in the kingdom of heaven.
He does not abide by “winner take all or the “race goes to the swift and strong.”
God says:
- “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.”
And,
- “Only the righteous shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.”
Whether we’re a life-long “cradle Catholic” or a newly initiated member of the flock – we each have an equal measure of God’s love and equal share in His Kingdom.
God’s love and God’s justice are revealed in today’s Gospel. Matthew uses the workers in the vineyard to demonstrate God’s equal love and justice for all his children.
Those who are called last to work in the vineyard are like those among us who are the least of His children.
When the master asked those workers why they stood idle all day, they replied, “Because no one has hired us.”
Those workers are like the ones who are always picked last to be on the team.
They are the un-chosen – the unwanted, - the disenfranchised, - the weak, - the voiceless, - those without power or influence – they are the least of God’s children:
Our brothers and sisters among us who lack opportunity or access – these last
But they, like we, - are children of the one loving God. They too are equal inheritors in the promise of God’s Kingdom.
God’s justice is not man’s sense of justice. God’s justice is equal shares to all who love Him. He says to all his people:
- “Come into the land of milk and honey.”
- “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
God’s love is infinite – unending - , there is enough for all. There is no need of jealousy or fear, - no competition for resources, - no need to push and shove for a place in line.
All will be served, - all will receive; - all will be filled with the good things God promises to His people who love Him.
Through the prophet Isaiah God reminds us:
“All you who are thirsty,
Come to the waters and drink!
You who have no money,
Come, receive grain and eat;
Come without paying and without cost,
Drink wine and milk!
As we are made in the image and likeness of God, we are all called to love God – and neighbor - as we love ourselves. This is God’s love. A complete love – a love for the other, - that puts their needs with our own, - that works for the common good of all and shares God’s gifts with all his children.
God’s justice – is a Redistributive Justice: – a Justice that cares for and shares with - all His children, His gifts of this world.
Catholic Social Justice teaches a “Preferential Option for the Poor.” This preferential option for the poor calls us:
- To consider first the least of our brothers and sister in Christ in all things, especially in the gifts of His creation,
- To set a place at the table and invite the least to the common meal of brotherhood,
- To give the least a voice in decisions affecting their destiny for the common good of all people
- To treat our least brothers and sisters with dignity and respect - as we would treat ourselves
For our Lord Jesus, - in whom we all profess our faith and belief, - does not suggest that we care for the poor, - but preaches and teaches us God’s love for the poor, - the outcast, - the disenfranchised, - the weak and – the helpless – the widow and orphan.
And - that we are measured on how we treat these least of God’s children - in how well we love God.
He calls all his children to come into his Kingdom of heaven through gates of love.
God’s justice is his love for each of us
- those who are called to work in his vineyard first and
- those who are called last.
We are each His beloved children – equal inheritors in His Kingdom of Eternal Life. Peace,
Deacon Don
(c) 2011
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