The early, the Late, and the Missing

Prayer-Soldier

The early, the Late, and the Missing

Scripture:

Seek the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
(Isaiah 55:6-9)

According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be confounded: but with all confidence, as always, so now also, shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ: and to die is gain. And if to live in the flesh: this is to me the fruit of labor. And what I shall choose I know not. But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better. But to abide still in the flesh is needful for you.

Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind laboring together for the faith of the gospel.
(Philippians 1:20-24, 27)

The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle. And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he said to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? They say to him: Because no man has hired us. He said to them: Go you also into my vineyard.

And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward: Call the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: And they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour. and you have made them equal to us, that have born the burden of the day and the heats. But he answering said to one of them: friend, I do you no wrong: did you not agree with me for a penny? Take what is yours, and go your way: I will also give to this last even as to you. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is your eye evil, because I am good? So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.
(Matthew 20:1-16)

Reflection:

We are told in scripture that our God is a jealous God. We often think of the word ?jealous? in negative and pejorative terms, but the context in which the word is used in describing God is not from the perspective of an unhealthy obsession, but the perspective of vigilance in protection and grave concern for unfaithfulness. What the Heavenly Father seeks to protect are the children of His creation because He is zealous in His love for us. He also knows that our indifference or infidelity to Him leaves us vulnerable to the evil one and all the harm which evil yields. Perhaps many do not comprehend this, but if we do, then, the question we should ask ourselves is why would anyone turn away from One who loves us so?

Perhaps the answer stems from our inability to see as He does. We struggle to understand His ways, but what are the ways of God, but the ways of love? Perhaps we struggle with understanding because we are only aware of the world, and even then, we are only aware of what our senses reveal; therefore we do not see as He sees, for He sees across all of heaven and earth, as well as the consequence of every action throughout the generations. What He commands that we do or do not do is so we may live without injury to one another or ourselves as well as our relationship of love with Him.

From time to time, we are left to wonder as to our purpose; the reason for which we were created. The simplest reason is for our relationships; our relationship with God as well as one another. God placed us here to love Him and for the benefit of one another and so that we might share with each other the blessings of love. God gave us free will to give meaning to the choices we exercise within our relationships, but He also encourages us to exercise responsibility in that freedom; the responsibility to do what is right and just, the responsibility to share in the blessings of love.

Along our path, we have much learning to accomplish. In our early years, time and experience were required before we learned to walk and talk. Before we could speak, we reached out in love to our parents. We took joy in the love which was returned to us, but in the progression of our maturity and our self-awareness, selfishness began to seduce us. Some learn early of the harm which selfishness yields while others are not so quick to observe. God calls us to His ways. With patience, He awaits our understanding. If we turn to Him and trust in Him, the wage He offers is an eternal place in His kingdom where love is shared by all. Some will come early. Some will come later. Some will not come at all. Blessed are those who respond to His call, whether they are the first or the last.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we experience the presence of God?

How may we learn of His ways?

In what ways do we resist Him and why?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier