Homily for Sept 20

Dear Parish Family:

Some years ago, in another parish, a mother and her children were preparing to receive the sacraments of the Church. As the date drew closer, this mother declined the opportunity. When I asked her the reason, she said that she was afraid of having her marriage validated because her husband faced the possibility of being deported. He had been in this country over twenty years and regularly sent money to his mother, but he was illegal. The wife asked if I had seen workers who would usually gather at a local parking lot waiting to be hired for the day. I said I had. She mentioned that on a regular basis, immigration authorities would round them up and send those who were illegal back to their native countries. This was the source of her fear.

This story reminds me of the story in today’s gospel about the generous landowner who paid those who worked only one hour the same as the ones who had labored all day long in the hot sun. Many find the parable very hard to take! If our focus is only on workers’ compensation or the politics surrounding illegal immigration, we have missed the point of the parable.

God’s grace is offered to us constantly. At times faithful believers have questioned the generosity of the Church in offering Christian burial to a notorious person who was known to cheat the poor. Who are we to judge the soul of our neighbor? Death-bed conversions truly do occur. The prophet Isaiah reminded his people:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”
(Isaiah 55:6-7, 9.)

Our Jewish brothers and sisters are now deeply immersed in the “High Holy Days.” Between “Rosh Hashana” (which began at sunset on the 18th) and “Yom Kippur” (the 28th) they are reflecting on the year that just ended, asking forgiveness for their offenses, and making resolutions for the year that has just begun. “Yom Kippur,” the “Day of Atonement” is the holiest day of the year. Jesus celebrated these days with his family and friends. He knew these words of the prophet Isaiah and was more aware than anyone of the overwhelming generosity of the “Father.” St. Paul, also an ardent Jew, discerned that the abundant mercy of God was made concrete in the very body of Jesus, the Christ. He told the people of Philippi: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.” (Phil 1:21)

The parables in Matthew’s gospel were addressed primarily to Jewish followers of Christ. They were meant to scandalize them with the mystery of God’s love. A first-time reader of this gospel could conclude that either Jesus was very naïve about human nature or he was a radical and a revolutionary. What do you think?

Yours in Christ,
Father Bill Foley