October 2
Sunday
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Guardian Angels
1st Reading: Is 5:1–7
Let me sing for my beloved the love song of my beloved about his vineyard.
My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up, cleared the stones, and planted the choicest vines. He built there a watchtower and hewed out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only wild grapes.
If God will receive everyone equally in the end, why bother doing good things now? As we heard in this week’s reading, it is not by any required law that we do things in accordance with God, but rather out of the love that flows from Him and gives us life. A mechanical obedience, without love, in the end will take us away from God. Obedience in the way of Christ is the greatest affirmation of our love for God.
A few weeks ago, I shared a story of a mother who taught in the elementary school in her community for more than a decade, but was laid off along with other teachers at the end of the last school year. Being laid off from the work she loved was devastating. She never saw it coming because she thought that her love of what she did translated into job security. She was very good with the kids, but she embraced her condition with hope and trust in God. She has since been hired as a substitute teacher while she continues to search for a full time position.
God has a special plan for each one of us, as we heard Jesus explain in the parable of the workers during this week’s Gospel. Those who worked hard in the heat all day were jealous of those who worked for only one hour and yet received the same pay. Instead of being envious and jealous of those who have been dealt a better hand, let’s be grateful for the blessings God has given to us. Even when others prosper or have more success, we can give thanks to God for the blessings he has given to them.
