It is 24th September 2017. We celebrate the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings are from Isaiah 55:6-9; the second reading is from Philippians 1:20-24, 27; and the Gospel from Matthew 20:1-16. God’s search for human beings never end in this world. An ever-forgiving and generously merciful God is searching for us day in and day out for the work of the Lord. When our minds our evil and idle, we settle down to our routine way of life and casual sins. The first reading offers a warning to all of us that we all need to seek the Lord tirelessly and consciously leaving our sinful ways of living. God judges not according to commercial standards of the world. God forgives us, trusts us and entrusts us with a responsibility time and time again even though our lives and hearts are searching for something else. The responsorial Psalm reminds us, “The Lord is near to all who call upon him.” (Ps.145:18). In the second reading, St. Paul shares his conviction on believing and living for Christ. Everyone has the duty to magnify Christ by spreading the Good News and through our charitable living. “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ. “(Phil.1:20). Only in our witnessing to truth and love, we bring out Christ in our lives. The Gospel suggests that we all be treated justly by God because God is generous and merciful. God does not ill-treat anyone but rather God wants all to respond to God’s invitation to work in His vineyard without grumbling, envy and jealousy. It is up to God to recognize our presence and the role we play in His vineyard. It is not how long have been working for the Lord that matters but rather how faithful and loyal to the work that is entrusted by God to us. It is indeed warning to all of us that there is no distinction in God’s vineyard. All of us are just hired workers. It is not how long since we are repented and believing in God would reward us differently our faithfulness to God does. Heaven is the reward for all those who are faithful. Moreover, God welcomes everyone who is willing to work for God. It is the grace of God that rewards us. As God is so merciful and generous, we who believe in God must display the same quality of God with one another. Let us be cautious in comparing with others and being jealous and envy the way others are rewarded by God. We are entrusted with a task according to our nature, character, talent and strength. God alone knows from whom God could ask for more and from whom for less. God will not underpay us for working for Him. God never compares our work with another person. The perception and the payment of God has completely a different standard that of the worldly standard. God will never abuse us or demand us unjustly. Our fidelity and faith will always reward us. God does not tolerate idleness in our lives and there is no room for being late. At the end, God will look at the work we have accomplished in His vineyard as per His direction that would reward us what God has agreed to pay for us. May we put in the best we can in God’s work and leave the reward to God. May you have a good day.