25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16a
Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard tells the story of a landowner – the Greek can be translated “master of the house” – in a seeming frenzy to bring workers to bring in his harvest. The question many of us will have is, “What is he thinking? Why would he be acting so strangely?” The answer in its mystery may be found in our first reading, as the Lord reminds Isaiah – and us – that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways.
Indeed many mysteries of God’s plan – from His creation to His Kingdom – are far beyond our ability to understand. Yet, as St. Paul writes, because “He has put His seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Cor 1:21), we can join in the work to build up the Kingdom to which Our Master calls us, confident that that work in the flesh contributes to the benefit of others (as in our second reading). Whether we may respond to His call early or late, when we look in the eye of the Master as He calls out to us each one by one, we can say yes, joining in His labor with joy, for that labor will yield His glory at the end of the day in His Kingdom.
At Seelos Brauhaus, our work depends on a little of that mystery of grace as the Spirit works through our community to reach out and build us up in communion as we each undertake the labor to which God has called us. The end product of that communal effort extends beyond the beer (as heavenly as we pray that will be!) – but it relates to it, as we work and pray together that the love of God may brew in our own hearts and show itself in us and through us. So we raise our glasses at the end of that day’s work as our namesake and his people surely did!
Blessed Seelos, pray for us!!
- Deacon Mike Cardella – Chaplain
