25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
GENEROUS VS. ENVIOUS
MT. 20: 1-16a
MESSAGE:
In today’s parable, the Lord Jesus posits the question of the landowner: “Are you envious because I am generous?” Without specifying his audience, the message was clearly directed at Jesus’ critics, those who do not share his idea of God’s welcoming and inclusive heart. God is generous while people can be envious many times. What is the contrast between the two attitudes? First, the generous one has a big, wide-open heart, that naturally tends towards others; always looking outside. An envious person has a small, narrow mind and heart that is afraid of others, but is only concerned with himself. Second, the generous person not only tends towards others but actually reaches out to others – touching, welcoming, embracing people without distinction. The envious one refuses to associate with others, and if ever he decides so, only to a select and preferred few. Third, the generous one overflows with love, peace and joy in the process of searching, finding and helping his neighbors. He is a source of hope in an environment of depression and despair. The envious discharges the negative energy of resentment and murmuring as he tries to extinguish hope in other people. Lastly, the generous man or woman delights in encounter, where he or she meets God in the face of a stranger who becomes a brother or sister. The envious one, on the contrary, prevents encounter from happening and thus, fails to meet God in the face of a neighbor. Jesus’ message is clear: God is the generous one whose action towards people cannot be fully understood at times. Envious people are those who oppose God’s action, unaware that they too are beneficiaries of God’s generosity and love.
REFLECT:
How has God been generous to you? Are you willing to be generous to others, too? What are you afraid of losing if you practice generosity and kindness to those around you? Lord, teach us to be generous like you and to find joy in encountering you in the person who needs me most today. Ourparishpriest 2023
