Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Massimo Palombella
(Museo di Belle Arti, Budapest)
In today’s Gospel (Mt 20:1-16) Jesus, wanting to describe once again the “kingdom of heaven”, tells the parable of the labourers in the vineyard.
“Working in the vineyard” can be understood as a life clearly defined, a life where fundamental things are understood and where, within a healthy process, these try to be translated into reality.
It is the Lord who calls us to ‘work in the vineyard’, but, at the same time, ‘working in the vineyard’ is also a deep and healthy need.
Jesus, in this simple and interesting parable, discreetly touches on an unresolved issue in our lives, namely the fact that some people place their existence well and quickly, and others do not. But, more profoundly, we are confronted with the fact that, in our personal lives, we carry burdens, ‘slownesses’, difficulties that we neither chose nor even deserved, but simply found ourselves laden with. Others, on the other hand, without having chosen or deserved it, find themselves with smooth roads and few difficulties.
We do not know why this happens, but we have the certainty that the Lord calls us to a life in abundance, to “work in his vineyard”, and that he will reward us no matter how much time we have spent in his vineyard.
It remains unresolved why some work from morning and others only from five in the afternoon but, together, there remains the certainty of a reward that looks at the heart, that sees our healthy need for a clearly defined life, and does not disappoint it.
The Offertory antiphon of today’s celebration is taken from Psalm 137 (Ps 137:7) with the following text: “Si ambulavero in medio tribulationis, vivificabis me, Domine:
et super iram inimicorum meorum extendes manum tuam,
et salvum me fecit dextera tua.”
(If I walk in the midst of tribulation you shall preserve my life, O Lord;
you shall stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand has delivered me).
The attached music is by Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594) and comes from ‘Magnum opus musicum’ published by Nicolai Henrici in Munich in 1604. The interpretation is by ‘Pomerium’. The piece of music is contained on the CD ‘Orlande De Lassus: Motets & Magnificat’ published by ‘Old Hall Recordings’ in 2008.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
