25th Sunday A

Welcome to our Bible
Study
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time A
21 September 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st reading: Isaiah 55:6-9
 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call
him while he is near. 7 Let the scoundrel
forsake his way, and the wicked man his
thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving. 8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor
are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways and
my thoughts above your thoughts.

 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call
him while he is near. 7 Let the scoundrel
forsake his way, and the wicked man his
thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving. 8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor
are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways and
my thoughts above your thoughts.
The focus is on repentance.

Imperatives in the second person
 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him
while he is near.
Imperatives in the third person
7 Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked
man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for
mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
Reasons for change
 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your
ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 As high as the
heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways
above your ways and my thoughts above your
thoughts.
A simple outline!

Imperatives in the second
person
 6 Seek the LORD while he
may be found, call him while
he is near.
 7 Let the scoundrel forsake
his way, and the wicked man
his thoughts; Let him turn to
the LORD for mercy; to our
God, who is generous in
forgiving.
Reasons for change
 8 For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, nor are your
ways my ways, says the
LORD. 9 As high as the
heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above
your ways and my thoughts
above your thoughts.
Commentary
 The passage is full of parallelisms
and figures of speech.
 The two sentences in v.6 mean the
same thing.
 It sends a strong message to the
listener, or, to the prophet that he
must seek the Lord, call him (pray to
him).
 Why does it say, “while he may be
found… while he is near?” Does it
mean there are times God cannot be
found and he is nowhere?
 The imperatives highly recommend
that the listener must take advantage
of God’s presence and nearness
now.
 The man of God must not delay.

Imperatives in the second
person
 6 Seek the LORD while he
may be found, call him while
he is near.
 7 Let the scoundrel forsake his
way, and the wicked man his
thoughts; Let him turn to the
LORD for mercy; to our God,
who is generous in forgiving.
Reasons for change
 8 For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways
my ways, says the LORD. 9
As high as the heavens are
above the earth, so high are
my ways above your ways and
my thoughts above your
thoughts.
 V.7 addresses itself to the sinner
(scoundrel, wicked) to change his
ways and abandon his thoughts.
 It encourages the sinner to approach
God for mercy and forgiveness.
 Approaching God is an urgent
matter. It must be the top priority of
all sinners.
 V.8 explains why we, sinners, should
abandon our ways and thoughts.
 They are not God’s.
 They are inferior to God’s.
 We should be intelligent enough to
choose God’s.

Reflections on the 1st reading
 The reading calls for repentance.
 Repentance means abandoning our wicked
ways and thoughts.
 Repentance means adopting God’s ways and
thoughts.
 We should admit that God’s ways and thoughts
are superior to ours.
 Let us not insist our own.
 Let seeking God be our priority.

Resp. Psalm Ps 145:2-3. 8-9. 17-18
 R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
2 Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
 17 The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.

Resp. Psalm Ps 145:2-3. 8-9. 17-18
 R. (18a) The Lord is near to all who
call upon him.
 2 Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever
and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and highly to be
praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his
works.
 17 The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call
upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
Commentary
 The psalmist promises to
praise God always. V.3
 Vv.3, 8-9, 17-18 state the
reasons why:
 He is great, v.3
 He is gracious and
merciful, slow to
anger…v.8
 He is good to all and
compassionate… v.9
 He is just… and holy…
v.17
 He is near to all… v.18

Reflections on the Psalm
 To affirm God, we must have a deep
experience of God, like the Psalmist.
 We cannot utter “God is good” if we have not
experienced him as good.
 We cannot say God is merciful and forgiving,
when we have not asked for forgiveness.
 Let our praises and honor to him come from
our hearts.

2nd reading: Philippians 1:20c-24.27a
 20c Now as always, Christ will be magnified in
my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to
me life is Christ, and death is gain. 22 If I go on
living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for
me. And I do not know which I shall choose. 23
I am caught between the two. I long to depart
this life and be with Christ, (for) that is far better.
24 Yet that I remain (in) the flesh is more
necessary for your benefit. 27 Only, conduct
yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of
Christ.

 20c Now as always, Christ will be magnified in
my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to
me life is Christ, and death is gain. 22 If I go on
living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for
me. And I do not know which I shall choose. 23
I am caught between the two. I long to depart
this life and be with Christ, (for) that is far better.
24 Yet that I remain (in) the flesh is more
necessary for your benefit. 27 Only, conduct
yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of
Christ.
The focus is on Paul’s living or dying for Christ.

 20c Now as always, Christ
will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
21 For to me life is Christ,
and death is gain. 22 If I go
on living in the flesh, that
means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I
shall choose. 23 I am caught
between the two. I long to
depart this life and be with
Christ, (for) that is far better.
24 Yet that I remain (in) the
flesh is more necessary for
your benefit. 27 Only,
conduct yourselves in a way
worthy of the gospel of
Christ.
Commentary
 V.20c indicates some mystical
connection of Paul’s body/soul (all of
Paul) with Christ.
 In Paul’s body, Christ is made bigger
(made more visible to people.)
 V.21 further develops what Paul
meant by living and dying.
 In his life or death, there is
nothing to lose.
 V.22 uses the word “flesh” positively,
not in contradiction to the spirit, but in
view of his mission.
 In vv.22b-23a, Paul seems to be
confused. He does not know what to
choose.

 20c Now as always, Christ
will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
21 For to me life is Christ,
and death is gain. 22 If I go
on living in the flesh, that
means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I
shall choose. 23 I am
caught between the two. I
long to depart this life and be
with Christ, (for) that is far
better. 24 Yet that I remain
(in) the flesh is more
necessary for your benefit.
27 Only, conduct yourselves
in a way worthy of the gospel
of Christ.
 In v.23b, Paul now wants to
die.
 For Paul, death means being
with Christ.
 In v.24, for Paul, living in the
flesh is beneficial to his
addressees – to us.
 In v.27a, Paul enjoins the
Christians to conduct their
lives according to the gospel
 We can benefit from Paul’s
effort only when we live
gospel lives.

Reflections on the 2nd reading
 Like Paul, we can identify ourselves with Christ.
 In life and in death, we become like Christ.
 We can attain what Paul has accomplished, if we
surrender ourselves totally to Christ and work for him
up to the end.
 Do we insist on remaining who we are (rotten)?
 Do you insist on people accepting your false self?
(not living like Christ).

Gospel reading: Mt 20:1-16a
 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to
hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual
daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine
o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to
them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' 5 So
they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three
o'clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o'clock, he found others
standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7 They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You
too go into my vineyard.' 8 When it was evening the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their
pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' 9 When those
who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily
wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive
more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it
they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last ones
worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore
the day's burden and the heat.' 13 He said to one of them in reply, 'My
friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual
daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this
last one the same as you? 15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my
own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' 16 Thus, the
last will be first, and the first will be last."

 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to
hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them for the usual
daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 Going out about nine
o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to
them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' 5 So
they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three
o'clock, and did likewise. 6 Going out about five o'clock, he found others
standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7 They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You
too go into my vineyard.' 8 When it was evening the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their
pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' 9 When those
who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily
wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that they would receive
more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11 And on receiving it
they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last ones
worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore
the day's burden and the heat.' 13 He said to one of them in reply, 'My
friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual
daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this
last one the same as you? 15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my
own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' 16 Thus, the
The focus is on God’s generosity.

Work in the Vineyard
 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at
dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with them
for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
9 AM
 3 Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the
marketplace, 4 and he said to them, 'You too go into my
vineyard, and I will give you what is just.' 5 So they went off.
12 Noon
 (And) he went out again around noon,
3 PM
 and around three o'clock, and did likewise.
5 PM
 6 Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around,
and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They
answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You
too go into my vineyard.'
A simple outline!

6 PM and the usual wage for all
 8 When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his
foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.' 9 When those
who had started about five o'clock came, each received the
usual daily wage. 10 So when the first came, they thought that
they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual
wage.
Grumbling of the early workers
 11 And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12
saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour, and you have
made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the
heat.' 13 He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not
cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily
wage? 14 Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this
last one the same as you?
God’s generosity
 15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are
you envious because I am generous?' 16 Thus, the last will be
first, and the first will be last."

Work in the Vineyard
 1 The kingdom of heaven is like a
landowner who went out at dawn to hire
laborers for his vineyard. 2 After
agreeing with them for the usual daily
wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
9 AM
 3 Going out about nine o'clock, he saw
others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 and he said to them, 'You too go into
my vineyard, and I will give you what is
just.' 5 So they went off.
12 Noon
 (And) he went out again around noon,
3 PM
 and around three o'clock, and did
likewise.
5 PM
 6 Going out about five o'clock, he found
others standing around, and said to
them, 'Why do you stand here idle all
day?' 7 They answered, 'Because no
one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You
too go into my vineyard.'
Commentary
 The gospel passage is a
parable about the kingdom
of God.
 It tells what will happen at
the end of time, when God
will reward all, who have
responded to his call.
 God will treat them
equally, out of his
generosity.
 God does not deal with
them according to our
human standards.
 God is God. He has his
own superior standards.

6 PM and the usual wage for all
 8 When it was evening the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon
the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with
the first.' 9 When those who had started
about five o'clock came, each received
the usual daily wage. 10 So when the
first came, they thought that they would
receive more, but each of them also got
the usual wage.
Grumbling of the early workers
 11 And on receiving it they grumbled
against the landowner, 12 saying,
'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day's burden and the
heat.' 13 He said to one of them in
reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual
daily wage? 14 Take what is yours and
go. What if I wish to give this last one
the same as you?
God’s generosity
 15 (Or) am I not free to do as I wish with
my own money? Are you envious
because I am generous?' 16 Thus, the
 We, humans, must not
make God human.
 We should not take
offense when God treats
the saints and new
converts similarly.
 All the more we should
rejoice because the Lord
is kind and merciful.
 He will continue to do the
same to all who respond
to his call, no matter how
late.

Reflections on the gospel reading
 God is kind and merciful.
 It tells us how God deals with us.
 He deals with us according to our needs.
 No one is considered a latecomer in the
kingdom of God.
 God has room for everyone.
 So, what are you doing?
 Go back to him, God is waiting for you.
 God does not want intentional delays.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading is about the superiority of
God.
 The psalm affirms God’s mercy and love.
 The second reading is about Paul’s
identification with Christ.
 The gospel reading is about God’s
generosity.
We can focus on God’s generosity.

How to develop your homily / sharing
 Who is God to you?
 Do you treat him like a human being?
 The readings tell us that we should not treat God that
way.
 The first reading tells us that God’s ways and
thoughts are not like ours.
 God thinks differently from us, humans.
 Since his thoughts and his ways are far superior to
ours, we must always seek him and know his ways.
See my article on the frontpage of the English Sambuhay.

 The gospel reading also emphasizes God’s
superiority.
 He is far more generous to his people than
we think.
 We, humans, should not confine God to our
measuring standards.
 God can do more to the poor, especially to
the humble, who respond to God’s call.
 Let us not hinder God from being generous.
 Instead, let us imitate him.

 The second reading tells us of Paul, who has a
correct view of God.
 Paul sees himself as having identified with Christ.
 He has experienced God’s generosity in Christ.
 Death for him is being with Jesus in heaven.
 Life for him is being with Jesus on earth, in his
mission.
 He does not struggle anymore to live or to die. Both
are non-issue to him.
 Both can work perfectly alright with him.
 Can we be like Paul, who is a spiritually integrated
person?

 We, Christians, are still struggling to know more
about God and Christ.
 We still have a faint knowledge of him, so we have
many misconceptions about him.
 This is due to our failure to transcend our human
reasoning and schemes.
 We must use the power of prayer and contemplation.
 “Seek the Lord while he can be found… call to him
while he is near…” That is prayer.
 We will discover that God is generous.
 Like St. Paul, we should be ready to live or to die.
Both should not make any difference.

 In the eucharist, we unite ourselves with Jesus.
 Though God is completely “other” and superior to us,
he comes to elevate us close to his level.
 In the eucharist, the God Jesus comes to transform
us into his image and likeness, that we may become
generous like him.
 The eucharist prepares us to live and to die for
Christ.

Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Spendthrift
 Stingy, selfish
 Underpaid
 Injustice
 Unemployment
 Underemployment
 Always complaining
 Generous
 Altruistic
 Philantrophic
 Prodigal in love (lavish)
 Kind and merciful
 Sensitive to the needs
of others

Suggested Songs
 Lord, have mercy
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpRghV_Ngnc
 Seek the Lord
 Sino Ba Ang Diyos?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8glIv39uKA

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25th Sunday A