Among other things, the liturgical readings for this weekend tell us to seek the Lord while He may be found. They also urge us to call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6-9). Reflecting on those lines, I discover a close reminder that there is a time for everything. Every person is given sufficient opportunities to respond to God’s invitation. However, not everyone pays attention to the moments of grace placed before them. While we measure life according to chronos, meaning the regular time we count, God acts according to kairos, meaning His appointed time. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and His timing often transcends human expectations. In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16a), the landowner invited workers all day. That instance shows that God calls people into His service hour-by-hour until the appointed time is up.
In today’s responsorial psalm, we find reassurance that “the Lord is gracious and merciful… close to all who call upon Him” (Psalm 145:8, 18), while St. Paul echoes this, saying that our lives find their true purpose in Christ (Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a). God’s invitation to everyone remains open, but it calls for a response within His timing. Like Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened to receive His word (Acts 16:14b), we are invited to prepare our hearts so that, when God’s kairos arrives, we may be ready to answer. Our prayer (my prayer for you) this Sunday is that God may find us watchful, faithful, and prepared to enter His vineyard; to labor joyfully in His harvest, and to receive the reward He has promised to all who respond to His invitation at His appointed time.
Amen !!!! I love it Fr. God is so good 🙏🙏🙏