25th Sunday, Ordinary Time

 


25TH SUNDAY, ORDINARY TIME 


Our readings open with the delivery of an exhortation: SEEK THE LORD (Isaiah 55:6). For somebody like Paul, this would rank as more of a privilege than a burden. As far as he is concerned, life means Christ (Phil. 1:21). Paul would respond to Isaiah’s message by rolling up his sleeves and getting right to it. You can almost imagine Paul whistling as he goes about the task of pursuing the Lord—after the fashion of Snow White, who recommends the practice of whistling while you work. If indeed he is whistling, it’s because the spiritual path brings a new measure of life to St. Paul. It makes him more alive; more alive rather than less alive. 


Snow White sings about whistling while you work. Meanwhile, Tennessee Ernie Ford sings about the burdensome aspect of work. His 1955 song “Sixteen Tons” depicts the toll that is taken when you commit to working in a coal mine. In this case, you are becoming less alive; not more alive. You agree to this line of work because it will produce a paycheck. We hear something about a rate of pay in this weekend’s Gospel. Workers are being sent to work, not in a coal mine, but in the setting of a vineyard. Do they reflect a Snow White attitude? Actually, they would appear to be more aligned with Tennessee Ernie Ford. They have no particular love for the work. It’s a means toward an end. They need to earn an income. This doesn’t represent the ideal. But nevertheless it’s a valid point of view. This point of view, however, becomes less valid when the workers begin focusing upon what’s being given to those who belong to the other crew (Matt. 20:11-16). The workers have no interest in whistling; but they are more than ready to complain. 


Contrast this example with the example of St. Paul. He’s laboring in a figurative vineyard. And he finds it to be a stimulating, life-giving experience. If he’s not whistling, then he’s at least sounding off with an inspired proclamation: For me, life means Christ! That’s what we can say about St. Paul. What about us? Can we relate to Paul? Does the spiritual path provide a sense of stimulation? Do you feel like whistling when you pick up your Bible, or when you head off to attend Mass? Do you look forward to spending time in prayer? Or does it come across as the subject matter of a Tennessee Ernie Ford song? In other words, you find it tedious. It seems like more of an imposition than an opportunity. 


It’s possible that you and St. Paul are not on the same page. He loves applying himself in the vineyard. It makes him more alive. For you, perhaps it’s a drag. You might as well be hauling coal. There is likely a part of you that would prefer to be on the same page as St. Paul. But how do you proceed? Maybe you need to adjust your approach. Paul regarded the spiritual path as something more than a regimen. For him, it was all about a relationship—a relationship with Christ. So it has to do with how you are looking at the situation. If what you’re seeing can be described as a regimen, then your attitude will turn sour. Try to perceive the relationship that underlies the regimen. What’s done in the vineyard is for the sake of leading you into a deeper relationship with the Lord. Commit to St. Paul’s approach. Discover that you are becoming more alive; more alive and not less alive. Suddenly you’re beginning to appreciate what Paul is saying when he declares that life means Christ. You’re not just hearing the verse; you’ve reached the stage where you can actually appreciate the verse. 

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