Scripture Reflection - September 20, 2026

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 55:6-9 - Philippians 1:20c-24   - Matt.20:1-16a

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.”

Ps. 145:18

The readings for this Sunday brought me to a spontaneous examination of conscience. Was there ever a time when I realized that something I was looking for was right there in front of me? How often have I used the expression, “God’s ways are not our ways”? Was there ever a time when I was so overwhelmed by a situation that I could not handle and had to turn it over to someone with greater ability than I?

Isaiah, in the first reading, reminds us “to seek the Lord while He may be found.” As we continue to search for God in our own lives, we will become more aware of His presence at every moment, if we only look and truly see him in the person right next to us, wherever we are. There are so many moments in my own life when I have experienced the presence of God in people and places where I never expected to find Him. I need to continue to open myself to the many ways he manifests himself each day.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we are reminded that Christ will be magnified in our bodies, whether in life or in death. We need to reflect on the ways we have allowed our bodies to manifest the presence of Jesus in our own lives. I am grateful for the ability to use my body to minister to the needs of others, hopefully with the compassion and love of Jesus.

In the Gospel from Matthew, Jesus uses the parable of the landowner who hired laborers to work in his vineyard to teach what he meant by “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first”. When the workers were all paid the same amount, whether they started at the first or the last hour of the day, the landowner was harshly criticized. As we ponder the many injustices in the workplace today, the landowner might be considered to be unjust! Yet the owner’s response, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?”, emphasizes God’s extravagant grace of Generosity.

We need to be aware that justice is not always in our control. As we move into the future, when there seems to be an increase in the injustices of our present age, we need to contemplate the greatness of God’s generosity. I need to embrace the generosity, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus in my daily life so that I may share those gifts with the world around me.  

For all of us who are seeking a world of peace and justice, there is a need to recognize the presence of God among us, to remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and to understand that we are the Body of Christ. Above all, we need to be grateful for his steadfast love for us, even when we feel unworthy.

Sr. Mary Doris, OP