DON'T WAIT! SEEK THE LORD NOW!
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Are you envious because I am generous?' (Mt. 20:1-16)
Jesus said Here I stand / Won't you please let me in / And you said I will tomorrow
Jesus said I am He / Who supplies all your needs / And you said I know but tomorrow / Ooh, tomorrow ... the Winans
The soulful gospel sounds of the Winans touched my spirit as I read the scriptures for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The words echoed in my mind, reminding me of how we respond when the Holy Spirit calls to us. I know you love the Lord, have prayed, and reflected on the scriptures for this Sunday, yet even as the Spirit comes, we are prone to say “Yes” to Jesus’ invitation and add to it, “I will… tomorrow.”
Even if the prophet Isaiah’s words inspire us, saying, “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the scoundrel abandon his ways and the wicked their thoughts; let them turn to the LORD for mercy, to our God who is generous in forgiveness” (Is. 55:6-7), we might still respond, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” These words should urge us to act now—God is near; He can be found, so don’t wait. Walking with the Lord, studying His word, and recognizing the deeds He has done in our lives is good, but there is always room for spiritual growth. Complacency or delaying a response to God's call is a lethargic spiritual disease. Feeling too comfortable in our relationship with God can prompt us to think, “I know, but tomorrow.” Undoubtedly, we forget that God’s calling is meant for us personally and our neighbor.
Reflecting further on our prophet’s words, it’s clear that the main reason to draw near to the Lord is that God is generous in forgiveness. Generous means giving abundantly, but it also means being ready. Spiritually, we need to recognize that God is always ready to forgive. When we come to Him, we won’t hear, “I’ll forgive you tomorrow.” His forgiveness is available now—it’s ours today, not tomorrow. This should urge us to seek the Lord now. A neighbor, co-worker, or even a stranger in the church pew may need to hear a kind word to lift their spirit and remind them that God is gracious. God is always ready to pour out mercy and grace, no matter what we’ve faced in our day. Are you still saying? "I know, but tomorrow."
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In Matthew’s gospel, the workers had an issue with the Landowner. Everyone had agreed to the wages offered, but some began to complain about what they received. The early workers said, “These last ones worked only an hour, and you’ve made them equal to us, who carried the weight of the day and the heat.” The Landowner reminded them they weren’t cheated, then asked, “Are you envious because I’m generous?” Imagine if he had told the early workers, “I’ll pay you tomorrow.”
The message is clear: God is generous, ready to forgive even when we say, "I will tomorrow." God is a giving God. When we seek God, we will know mercy nd grace are near. This parable shows that God gives the same mercy and grace to all, regardless of gender or race, because we are all made in His image. Whether you’ve walked with Jesus for a lifetime or met Him later in life, no one’s relationship with God is superior. There’s no need for envy: "The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morning—great is your faithfulness!" (Lam. 3:22-23).
Pray with me! "Lord, show me the steps to take today to walk closer to your bountiful and compassionate love. You have been faithful, always ready to carry me when I am overwhelmed. I now see it was your mercy you lavished on me when I said 'tomorrow.' Teach me to say, 'Today I will seek your face in my life.' Today, I call on you to hold my children in your arms with the same comfort you have always given me. You have been faithful and gracious."
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