Scripture Study for

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.

The prophecy of salvation that is read today includes a call to worship and  a call to conversion. The prophet describes the sinfulness of the people. There  is a pattern of sin here, not merely isolated offenses. Still, the prophet assures  them that God will be compassionate toward them. On the one hand are wicked  thoughts and the way of the scoundrel; on the other hand are compassion and  forgiveness. This oracle both exhorts sinners to turn away from their evil lives  and assures them that having turned away they will enjoy the salvation of God. 

Paul shares his own inner struggle regarding life and death. Although the  decision to live or die was probably not in his hands, it is his attitude toward  these options that is of importance here. Paul does not consider death a way of  escaping the misfortune that he may be suffering. Rather, he weighs the religious  and ministerial advantages of both living and dying. At issue is the extent to  which Christ will be glorified through Paul’s continued life or his death. Though  he prefers dying and being with Christ, he can see advantages for himself either  way. Still he is willing to postpone the joyful union with Christ for the sake of his  ministry. 

The parable read today is particularly startling. It does not seem fair to pay  all of the laborers the same wage regardless of the amount of time they put into  the work. Still, all received exactly the amount for which they had contracted.  The paradox of the narrative is seen in the payment policy of the owner of the  vineyard. The justice with which he pays the laborers is superseded by his generosity. What is almost scandalous here is the fact that he is most generous toward  the workers who were unwanted by others. The parable shows that the reign of  God is based on generosity, not merely on human standards of fairness. 

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