25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 55:6—9

SECOND READING
Philippians 1:20c—24, 27a

GOSPEL
Matthew 20:1—16a

WHY COMPLAINING?

People come to church seeking the face of God differently, when God comes to them, some will like to tell God how he will see to their different intentions. God who created you, created others and as you expect blessings from him, so also others expect blessings from him. When we try to show God that we are wiser than him, we should bear in mind that even before we were conceived, he knew us. (Jeremiah 1:5).

In the first reading, Isaiah is telling us to seek God when there is time. We all know that the dead cannot praise or seek God. The words of our Lord in Matthew 7:7 are for those who are alive. The face of God we should seek is not just to be coming to church but to follow the dictates of God and his church.

St. Paul in the second reading is showing us example of how to seek the face of God. He said that whether dead or alive he is on the profit side. He further explained it for us to know how to make choices in life. He said that to die is more gainful to him because he knew he will join Christ in heaven and to live is more gainful to the Philippians so that he will continue to show them the way to life. He chose to live for others not for himself. We should learn to count others not even first but in our program but counting them first is the best.

The gospel is an experimental result of the first and second reading. Those that came out to look for job were living out the way we should best use in looking for God. They came out first before God himself went and asked them to go into his farm. I cherish most the last group called for they did not loose heart rather they waited for the Lord. Our problem is that we no longer wait for God in our lives. We complain all the time. We look for any possible means to get what we want whether through good or bad means. I was coming home from Awka one day, the express way was blocked with a fallen truck, so when we reached there, we had to turn back to go and follow the old road. There was a small path we would have followed to cross and join the old road but it was blocked. A group of boys were directing vehicles where to follow and what they were doing was directing vehicles to go inside the water so that when the vehicle stops, they collect money from them to help push the vehicle out. Looking for daily bread through evil ways. They could not go out to look for one who will employ them, rather they decided to employ themselves.

When we must have finished up with coming to look for God as in the first reading, when we must have counted others first as in the second reading and when we must have come out to wait for God as in the gospel, why do we complain on how God does his things? I was complaining why should God leave these set of people to live, why not kill them so that we live freely? And some of us here do the same. God's ways are far from our ways. There is one thing that I received one day through WhatsApp which said that, a man was asked by God to ask for anything from him and he will do it for him, but he should bear in mind that anything he asks that he will do it for his neighbour times two. After checking all he will ask, he asked God to close his one eye so that his neighbour will be blind. That is what we do today but Jesus is telling us to focus on himself and good of everything and everyone around us and we shall make heaven. Stop complaining but seek the face of God. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.