“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Wednesday, 17th August 2016,
Twentieth Week of Ordinary Time
Ez 34:1-11;
Ps 22:1-6;
Mt 20:1-16
BE RESPONSIBLE!
The Word of God speaks to us today about responsibility, and, in particular, those responsibilities entrusted to us by God. In the first reading, God reprimands the leaders of the people of Israel and holds them accountable for the sufferings of the people. They were chosen to lead the people, according to his commandments. Instead, they led them to break their relationship with God through corrupt religious practices, and turned them against each other for their own financial and political benefit. This resulted in their destruction and exile. Ezekiel reproaches them for failing in their responsibility to be faithful shepherds to the people.
All of us are, in some way, placed as shepherds or guardians over others. Whether we are priests, religious, parents, teachers or government servants, we are expected to be responsible to the people who, in some way or other, depend on us. The first reading reminds us that these people are not ours to manipulate but they belong to God and are entrusted to our care by Him. This means that we are and will always remain accountable to him.
The gospel reading is a narration of the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, who work for different number of hours but yet are given the same wage. One truth that this parable reveals to us is that in taking account of the task given to us, God considers, not how long we have worked, but how hard and sincere was our effort. Consequently, whether we have a life-long responsibility of a parent, or a short-term task like that of a teacher towards a particular batch of students, we are expected to be equally dutiful. And the reward for all our efforts is unimaginably great - "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Mt 25:34).
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a faithful shepherd to the flock entrusted to me; a dutiful labourer to the tasks allotted to me. Amen.