SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG SEPTEMBER, 23RD, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-3;8-9;17-18 (R.18a)
Second Reading: Philippians 1:20c-24;27a
Gospel Acclamation: Acts 16:14b
Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Kuyoro Paul

MY REFLECTION

The gospel reading clearly indicates that God has a timetable to accomplish his purpose in our individual lives. All we are called to do, like those labourers, is to make ourselves available. The labourers indicated their willingness to labour by remaining in a particular site waiting patiently, and so it was easy for the owner of the vineyard to locate them.

We are all potential labourers, but God is the one who decides when to hire us and for what purpose. As for the nature of reward, he alone knows the value of each man's labour, because he does not think or judge as man.

Just like no one knows how, when or for what purpose God calls his labourers, he warns us also through Prophet Isaiah, about the danger in postponing our conversion and repentance from evil. Only while we are still alive can we talk of God's merciful love. Since we are totally ignorant of the day when we shall depart this world, we must begin to appreciate how dangerous it is to joke with matters of eternity. We must be steadfast in watching and praying, so that when the Son of man comes, we won't be caught unaware.

Jennifer Nwatu

MY REFLECTION

Honouring Christ with all I have...

If you have paid attention to the words of St. Paul in the second reading, you'd understand why the title above. 

Isn't it for the sole reason of honoring Him, that we were created?

Isn't it to serve Him, that God made us?

Isn't it to be happy with Him, here and forever in the next that we were first created?

So, would it be wrong to offer all we have to the one who created us? That we become living offering to Him, who first loved us dearly.

"For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain," says St. Paul.

This, too, can become our testament, when we have used up ourselves for the sole aim of bringing honour to God.

Yes, you heard me right! You and I, can express ourselves as St. Paul, if only we discover a joy that surpasses all joys, when we give our all in service— service to one another, which in turn brings glory to God. This is love for love in return.

Have you been looking hard for what can be done to bring honor to God?

Look inward first of all, then reach out to others, and give thanks always!

May our living become a daily offering to God, who so loves us and wants nothing less than the best for us all.

Okolo Ikenna

MY REFLECTION

Maximizing The Seasons of Your Life

Today's Gospel exposes that even God's generous blessings and opportunities has windows- it is available to us.

How, then, as Christians do we maximize them?

The only reason you will enter your season of blessings is when your are aware it is your window to cash out. The knowledge of the right time to enter your season, whether the 6th, 9th or 11th hour, is dependent on the following:

✔️ Your Purity

✔️ Vigilance (Prayers)

✔️ Your Light (Knowledge of the Word)

The 1st and 2nd readings have a lot to say on these. You can only ascend when u are pure; "who can ascend the mountains of the Lord".

Jesus was also inactive for 30yrs in His public ministry, until the Spirit led him to fast and pray for 40days and as the Bible recorded, he entered his season of fame- "his fame went abroad."

Then, God's word is a lamp to our feet, leading us into discernment of our seasons of greatness (Psalm 119).

In purity, we must also honor God with our bodies– flee from seduction and lustful dressings and posts and perversions. These things weakens our spirits and leave us prone to satanic manipulations and attacks. They wage wars against ur seasons and potentials of your souls (1 Peter 2:11).

Chika Nwaozuzu

MY REFLECTION

Grace, Grace and Grace!!

From the gospel...

It is all about grace. If not, why would someone who is last turn out to be first? It is GRACE!

If not grace, why would a sinner who got converted on his death-bed receive the same pay cheque (eternal life to behold the face of our glorious Savior) with that child of God who had dedicated all his/her life in the service of God and his people?

Hence, one would ask, "is God fair to us at times?"

The answer to this question is NO. But again, the truth is this– whosoever comes to him through his son Jesus Christ, is always given more than a fair treatment and that is the reason why his ways are not like our ways and his thoughts not like ours.

Sometimes, how much we labor in the Lord's vineyard do not really matter but our response to answer the call to labor in his fields is what really determines our reward. Whether the call was answered in the morning or afternoon or evening, our rewards are the same but the grace should be utilized at the proper time because grace might be available for us to do something in the morning and by evening, that same grace might not be available.

May the Lord open our hearts to hear the voice of his son and the grace to respond to this call. In our brokenness, may he always answer us each time we call on him, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Eshiebor Simon

MY REFLECTION

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ."

As we work to make our lives worthy of the Gospel, so also we should work to make the lives of others worthy of the Gospel. Let us know that as we work to help ourselves, we are also, indirectly, working to help others live worthily. Yes, our lives should be enough to tell people who Christ is. It is good to tell people about Christ, but what is also good, is Christ telling people about himself, through us. How? With the way we live our lives. The way we speak to others, act with others, and live with others, all of these, should reflect love, and Christ is love.

Dear friends, "it is no use walking anywhere to preach," says Francis of Assisi, "unless our walking is our preaching."

May God help us to live according to the Gospel, Amen.