A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
It's Not Fair: A sentence that we often hear from our kids- at work- families- when people are sick etc. is that “it’s not fair”. Most of the time the saying comes in comparison to other persons or circumstances. This Sunday’s Gospel we hear these same sentences from the people who worked the whole day when the master rewarded everyone equally. This parable that Jesus spoke makes everyone thinks, yes, it’s not fair. Because we think in human ways. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, our ways not God’s ways”. God offers a full day’s wage even to those who worked only for an hour. Now our human logic asks, if this is the case with God, then why should we work in his vineyard at all – oh fine, after all, everyone in the parable did work, at least for an hour. But why should we work so hard in the vineyard? The answer is very simple: we work hard in his vineyard, not because of any delayed reward but because we just enjoy it. To be privileged to work is itself a reward. we wish to be good, not for a pie in the sky, but because it is good for us to be good. The one denarius at the end of the day is but a bonus. The notion of the kingdom of God is central to understand this parable. The kingdom of God is a family more than a society. A society is characterized by we and them, by rivalry and survival of the fittest. A family, on the other hand, is all we and no them. It is characterized by a spirit of co-operation rather than competition. If the latecomers were family members of the early birds would have rejoiced with them at their good fortune rather than grumbling. Let us understand that we all belong to one family and try to foster generosity, love, forgiveness, and concern for each other and enjoy the happiness and warmth of God's family. Let us encourage each other and develop the spirit of co-operation in all the realms of our lives and build up the Kingdom of God.
St. Padre Pio: Was born on 25th May 1887 in Italy. He was ordained a priest on 10th August 1910. Filled with the love of God and neighbor, Pio demonstrated a remarkable zest for his vocation which he considered a call to work for the good of his fellowmen. A man of deep piety, prayer, and prudence, the special mission that characterized his life as a priest manifested itself in numerous ways. The special charism he had for spiritual direction and sacramental reconciliation, at which he spent long hours daily, helped bring the touch of God’s forgiving love into the aching heart of suffering, sinful humanity. His sanctity made a great impact on all he came in contact with, so much so that he was called the second Saint Francis. But it was his awe-inspiring manner of celebrating the Eucharist that could be best considered the pinnacle of all his apostolic activity. Padre Pio was widely believed to have been the recipient of numerous mystical experiences such as visits from Our Blessed Mother, communication with angels, stigmata, the gifts of Prophesy and healing, etc. Pio once said that “The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self: there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain”. Padre Pio died on 23rd September 1968. As we honor this saint this Wednesday the 23rd of this month we seek his intercession.
Loose cannon inside the ship in the storm: French author Victor Hugo has a short story titled, “93.” In the midst of this tale, a ship at sea is caught in a terrifc storm. Buffeted by the waves, the ship rocks to and fro, when suddenly the crew hears an awesome crashing sound below deck. They know what it is. A cannon they are carrying has broken loose and is smashing into the ship’s sides with every list of the ship. Two brave sailors, at the risk of their lives, manage to go below and fasten it again, for they know that the heavy cannon on the inside of their ship is more dangerous to them than the storm on the outside. So it is with people. Problems within are often much more destructive to us than the problems without.
The Clever Lady: Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business. When he found out that he was going to inherit a huge fortune when his sickly father died. He decided he needed a wife with whom he can share his fortune. One evening at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away. He approached her and said,” I may look like just an ordinary man, but in just a few years my father will die and I will inherit 20 million dollars’. Impressed, the woman obtained his business card. Three days later, she became his stepmother.
God's blessings
Fr. Suneesh Mathew
Psalm 16: You Are My Inheritance O Lord
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