THE UNVEILING OF DIVINE WISDOM

Reflection for 25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A 

 (Is 55:6-9; Phil 1:20-24,27; Mt 20:1-16)

Whenever we compare what we have with that of others, we discover that either we do not have enough or we need more to remain on top. Often times our way of counting progress is when we achieved that which others have or do not have. Human mind and logic is awesome, but its ways of reasoning cannot be compared to divine wisdom. The Lord declares through the Prophet Isaiah, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Therefore, human reasoning becomes sublime when it accommodates divine wisdom through faith. Faith and reason are no more opposing each other but they work together to inspire the believer to action. This is so because the immeasurable wisdom and knowledge of God is revealed to us in Christ Jesus (Rm 11:33).  

Hence, the human person must commit his reasoning to divine wisdom. If not, it will be locked up in self-pity, the agony of its limitedness and diminish itself in competitiveness. That is why Isaiah cries out, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” And the Lord God had taken His abode among us in Christ Jesus; our human mind can reach out to Him. The ways of God that was formally far removed from us can now be followed through Jesus Christ. That is why St Paul, in the second reading, urges us to center our reasoning to ‘honour’ Christ. “Christ is to be honoured in my body, whether by life or death.” St Paul demonstrates how he battles between different life options. Yes, our minds remain restless in its reasoning and struggles for choices in life. We cannot stop the mind from thinking. But our choices and responses to situations must be to the honour of Christ and according to the manner worthy of the Gospel.

And the manner worthy of the Gospel is clearly demonstrated in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The householder hired the first set of labourers in early morning and agreed to pay them one denarius a day. From the third hour to the eleventh hour, he saw other idle labourers and sent them to his vineyard but did not agree on any pay. “You go into my vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.” At the close of work, he began payment first from those he hired on charity, and gave them the same amount that was due to the first set of labourers by justice. The first of labourers were not happy because, according to human reasoning, they ought to receive more since they worked all day. Their grumbling was not because the householder treated them unjustly, but because they did not want to ‘share their glory’ with those who did labour with them! They wanted the lowliness of the others to express their exaltation. But they forgot that the householder reduced their task by hiring more hands, such that even the one denarius was more than the task initially agreed and was equally given in charity.

Yes, generosity, mercy and compassion are the Gospel patterns of reasoning we must adopt in order to unlock divine wisdom. Though divine wisdom may appear hidden, distant from human logic and a mystery, charity makes it shine out. The householder answered, “My friend, I am doing you no wrong...take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give you...Do you begrudge my generosity? So the last will be first, and the first last.” It is by charity that justice reaches those who cannot purchase it. Charity is that platform, which human logic understands and divine wisdom prescribes. Whenever we act in charity, our logical reasoning surrenders to divine wisdom. While our minds are burning with thoughts in the face of diverse life options, let our primary intention be to the honour of Jesus Christ and let our guiding principle be generosity of heart. In this way, Divine Wisdom will locate us, and engage us in its vineyard, such that Divine providence will bless us and we shall labour for eternal life, Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday September 20^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com