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God’s Brand of Justice

by Momong   August 22nd, 2007 [Wednesday]

Matthew 20: 1-16
Jgs 9:6-15/Ps 21:2-7

What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Don’t I have the right to do as I please with my money? Why be envious of my generosity?
(Matthew 20:14-15)

Though unfair at first it may seem,
Who can ever fathom God’s ways?
Not by merits are we redeemed,
But only by His loving grace.

A landowner went out to hire workers for his vineyard. A just salary of one silver coin was agreed upon with the hired laborers. In the course of the day, the landowner decided to hire additional laborers 4 times at different hours of the day. At the end of the day, he instructed his manager to pay all of the laborers the same rate, beginning with the last and ending with the first. Those who toiled longest expected to receive more, and grumbled when they received the same pay as those who worked less. “These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the day’s burden and heat.” But the owner replied, “Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin a day? Don’t I have the right to do as I please with my money? Why be envious of my generosity?”

Reflection

The laborers who grumbled failed to appreciate the generosity of their employer and show gratitude for their livelihood because they had a misplaced sense of justice. Who knows the landowner might have given them extra pay when they were paid last if they had not grumbled but expressed their gratitude and appreciation instead?

We cannot compare the world’s standard of fairness to God’s brand of justice. This is evident in the benevolent landowner who decided that a living wage must be paid his workers not so much for the length of time rendered, but more importantly for them to be able to support their family’s needs in a way consistent with human dignity.

In this parable, the landowner clearly represents God, and the vineyard as His kingdom. The twin lessons that our Lord wants to impart here is that 1) salvation does not come in different degrees, but is the same for all men; and 2) it is by God’s grace that His workers are rewarded, just as it is by grace that we serve Him in the first place. The question is not how God qualifies or rewards those who work for His kingdom, but how we respond to the challenge to serve Him when His invitation comes. We must all be ready to grasp the opportunity for service, and rejoice in whatever reward is forthcoming. God alone knows the value of every individual’s service for His kingdom. But we can rest assured that when the rewards come from our gracious Lord, they will not only be just, but generous.

Try Me in this, says the Lord of hosts: if I do not open the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessings upon you without measure (Mal. 3:10). Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Posted in Generosity, Grace, Justice, Service | Leave a comment»

Storing Up On The Real Treasure

by Momong   June 22nd, 2007 [Friday]

Matthew 6: 19-23
2 Cor 11:18.21-30 / Ps 34

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
(Matthew 6:23)

We are blind to the real treasure
If the wealth of this world is our goal;
We will find the cost beyond measure
If it should mean the loss of our soul.

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is bad, then your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be!” (Matthew 6:19-23)

Reflection

What did our Lord Jesus mean by His words, “Store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal”? (Mt. 6:20) How is it possible to store up treasures in heaven?

Perhaps the succeeding passages may shed light on this parable. “The lamp of the body is the eye; if your eyes are sound, your whole body will be in the light. If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be in darkness.” (6:22-23) Our spiritual “eye” is our conscience. A Christian with a sound conscience lives in the light of God’s love. He believes that it is in acts of charity that he can store up or gain graces, which are the real treasure from God. And nothing can take that away from him. But a person who spends his life storing up material fortunes for himself is in darkness, because money gained for its own sake is usually earned by means foul and false. And spent in the same darkness of vices. Such earthly treasures last only for a time, and will never bring happiness, but only the deepest darkness to the soul.

Our Days with the Lord sessions coordinator, Bro. Vener, has always been a model to us of one who has dedicated his life completely in “storing up treasure” for himself in heaven. For more than 20 years — in every monthly week-end formation seminar — he has been an ubiquitous fixture. He guides the assigned course director and his staff in the proper handling of the session, helps in the solicitations from sponsors, and coordinates with the Day’s spiritual director. Wherever a brother or his immediate family member passes on, expect him to be there in the wake, leading the members in the prayer service. I have not seen a Dayser servant as dedicated as he is. All the brothers know that Bro. Vener has long been unemployed and has no regular means of income, but he has never lacked for anything for himself and his small family. The Lord has consistently provided for his needs through the generosity of many brothers who consider it a special privilege to help him continue with his mission. He told me once that he might be poor in this life, but he knows he is very wealthy in the next. And that hope has given him reason enough to be happy.

Learn to savor the goodness of the Lord; happy are those who take refuge in Him. Nothing is lacking to those who fear Him (Psa 34:9-10). Thank You, Father for your faithful servants who show us how to store up treasures in heaven. Amen.

Posted in Conscience, Generosity | Leave a comment»

Have Nothing, to Gain Everything

by Momong   June 9th, 2007 [Saturday]

Mark 12: 38-44
Tb 12:1.5-15.20 / Tb 13:2.6

She, out of her poverty, put in everything— all she had to live on.
(Mark 12:38-44)

With nothing of my own from birth,
With nothing but hope I aspire
To claim when I depart this earth,
Your kingdom as my sole desire.

As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the market-places, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.’ Then Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything— all she had to live on.’ (Mark 12:38-44)

Reflection

It is not the amount that we give that makes our gift significant; it is how much we have left for ourselves that makes a difference. Jesus praised the poor widow, even though her gift was hardly of any value compared to the vast amounts donated by others to the temple treasury, because even if she knew she would have nothing left, she believed and trusted that God would take care of her needs. Like most widows in Palestine at that time, she had no one to depend on for survival, and her act was a total surrender to God’s mercy. And sure enough, she caught God’s attention.

God is not attracted to wealthy people in flowing robes, chanting long prayers, and making large donations to the church coffers. It is because in their self-sufficiency, they never feel any real sense of urgency for God. More likely, their going to church is all for show, if not for tradition’s expediency. This is probably the reason why our Lord Jesus, in His life and in His parables, always had a soft spot for the poor widows, because they usually had no money or status in life, and were totally dependent on God and/or others for their very survival.

And this is what our Lord’s message is in today’s Gospel. When we express our total dependence on God’s mercy, He will not only supply us our needs, but He will bless us even more abundantly in other good things as well. This was what happened to Tobit and his son Tobiah in today’s first reading (Tob.12:5-15). They put their total trust and dependence on the angel Raphael, and at the end of their journey, they were willing to give to him (not knowing his true identity) half of all the wealth that Tobiah had successfully brought home. Instead, Raphael revealed himself as God’s messenger and told them to “keep thanking God everyday; praise Him with song.”

Let us never forget, Lord, that everything is Yours, and we are merely Your stewards. May we always depend on You, never holding back anything that You require us to give, emptying ourselves if need be, in order to receive Your bounty. Amen.

Posted in Generosity, Mercy, Tithing | Leave a comment»