God's Mathematics

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twentieth Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Mt 20:1-16*

*First Reading : Ez 34:1-11*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6*

*God's Mathematics*

*1) All are Equal*

The parable of the labourers in the Vineyard, conveys a powerful theme that is all are equal to God 

The person who worked for whole day and the person who did the one hour work, received the same amount 

This shows God does not make any partiality or does not treat the last one in a different way 

The last one also considered as equal to the person who worked for the whole day 

*2) God Cheats no one*

At the peripheral level it appears that God was not just in giving equal amount. That is our calculation 

But careful analysis shows that, He gave the first worker who worked for the Whole day, what was agreed for the daily wage 

In no way the owner gave less than what was agreed. So there is no cheating 

To the last he gave more. This shows God's generosity.

This clearly shows that God never cheats any one 

*3) He is always Generous*

This is another characteristic of God's mathematics

He always gives more than what was due. To the last he gave the entire days wage, which shows the Generosity of God 

*4) He gave according to the agreement* 

We also hear in the parable that the first one who received their days wage, which was fixed earlier, started to grumble the owner

They didn't say that the owner has given less. Their argument is that the last ones got more 

So the owner didn't go against the agreement. He followed the agreement perfectly well 

*5) Not Hours, But attitude counts*

In God's mathematics, the Hour of works has no place 

One can't be judged according to the hours of work one does 

In God's mathematics, the attitude, the behavior, care, concern and belongingness counts a lot 

That is how the mathematics of God works 

*6) No one can claim by Right*

The Labourers who came first were trying to argue with the owner to claim the benefits of the situation 

To their claim, they go nothing, but had to bow down to the mathematics of God 

This clearly shows no one can claim anything from God, as if something is some ones right. 

From God everything is a free gift and one should have a right disposition to receive the gift

Have I understood the mathematics of God?

How my mathematics is different from the mathematics of God? 

How can I adopt the mathematics of God in my life?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*