If we live for Jesus Christ, death would be a gain

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Gerard Majella Parish

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

September 18, 2011

The Gospel contains some amazing paradoxical statements made by Jesus. For instance, in gospel of Matthew 20:16, which is part of today’s gospel reading, Jesus says, “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” In Matthew 23:11, he says, “The greatest among you must be your servant.” And in Luke 17:33, the Lord says again, “Whoever tries to keep his life will loose it, and whoever loses his life will save it. Many years later, St. Paul in Philippians 1:21 issued another paradoxical statement, “For me, to live is Christ Jesus, but to die is gain.”

St. Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting trial when he wrote those words. He had been in jail before, but was miraculously set free by an earthquake. Now while in a Roman prison, he did not see any immediate release. He was facing an uncertain future- he may not come out alive. But despite his trial and persecution, Paul did not despair. He still expressed great joy in the midst of suffering. So, in his letter to the Church in Philippi, he wrote, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If I get to live, that will be good because it will allow me to continue the work of preaching the Gospel; but if death is my sentence, it is gain for me. St. Paul was very strong in affirming that death wouldn’t be a bad idea since it would signal the end of his sorrow, suffering, tribulation etc and will be the genesis of a beautiful life in God. 

Let us understand one thing here. St. Paul did not go out of his way to wish for death. He did not call upon death to come. He wanted to live so that he could continue to work and preach among his friends. He wanted to live. He understood that life is a gift of God. But he was in prison and potentially could be killed. If given the chance to live, he would take it for the sake of the Gospel; but if otherwise, he counts it as gain altogether. This is exactly what he said, “If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.” As far as St. Paul is concerned, there is no difference between life and death. In his mortal life, he lived it for Jesus alone. And if the enemies of the Gospel put him to death, he says, “It is not a loss but gain.” St. Paul understood that Jesus Christ is the Lord of life and the Prince of resurrection. He understood clearly that life lived for Jesus Christ would guarantee the gain of heaven. 

St. Paul says, “To live is Christ.” This means that our human life should be lived to serve the Lord alone. Life without Christ is crisis. Life without Jesus is emptiness and pain. Human life has no meaning if it is lived without the Lord. For St. Paul, Jesus is the beginning of life. From the moment he encountered Jesus on the way to Damascus, he had begun life all over again. From that very day, he knew that Jesus is the beginning of  life, the continuing of life and the end of life. 

From the beginning of St. Paul’s Damascus experience, he never looked back.  Everything he did or said is for Jesus Christ. The only thing he wanted and cared for is Jesus Christ. In Philippians 3:10, St. Paul declares, “All I want to know is Christ Jesus and to experience the power of his resurrection. I want to suffer with him and also share in his death.” Because his entire life was devoted to the Lord alone, St. Paul could say “To die is gain.” Death for St. Paul, was coming nearer to the presence of Christ. Death for him is entrance into glory. He would want to live in human body so as to continue the preaching of the good news. But  in prison, he realized that he may not come out alive. So, he declared that even if he dies, life would still go on in a much better place. 

In today’s gospel taken from Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus says to us all, “Come and work in my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.” Our God is a just God. If we go into his vineyard and work from morning till dawn, he would pay us a just wage. The work God has called us to do is to live for Jesus Christ. And the just wage he has promised us is the kingdom of heaven. Now those of us who have been working in the vineyard of the Lord from morning time should know that there are others who may join us in the noonday and even at sun set. When they come, let’s welcome them warmly and not give in to resentment and jealousy. Jesus has called every human person to “Go into his vineyard.” Some will come in the morning, others, in the noonday, and yet others, by sunset. Whenever any person responds to God’s invitation, let’s not threat them as outcastes, rather, let’s welcome them happily into the vineyard of the Lord. There is enough work for each of us. 

If we live for Jesus, we will live free of jealousy and envy. If we live for Jesus, our life will be a life of gratitude for what the Lord has given to us. If we live for Jesus, we will not be jealous of others, jealous of what they have. We will live appreciating what we too have. If we live for Jesus, we will not point to what others have which we don’t, instead we will thank God for what we have.  Jealousy or envy is a denial of what we have, a denial of what we have received from God, and a type of ingratitude. Haggai 2:8 says, “Silver and gold belong to God.” And God decides how he apportions all that to each of us. In today’s gospel, the laborers who came in the morning were angry with the Master and jealous of other servants who came later in the day to work just because the vineyard owner, in his magnanimity paid each of them the same amount. 

Heaven is the reward of righteousness and uprightness. It is God’s reward to all- both those who served him throughout their lives and those who encountered God at the point of their death. St. Paul was not among the original 12 Apostles that Jesus chose. He 2did not accept the Christ that walked the streets of Israel; but when he encountered the risen Lord, he was given the same power and favor like Apostles. He even called himself an Apostle. 

Instead of looking at others and what they have, let’s look at what the Lord has given to us and be grateful to him. Instead of envy, let’s be grateful. Jealousy breeds hatred, anger, resentment, bitterness and ultimately bewitches the Holy Spirit in us. St. Paul did not care about earthly riches. While on earth, all that mattered to him was Jesus. And if we live for Jesus, death would be union with God and reunion with our loved ones.