GOD’S SURPRISING CHOICES!

GOD’S SURPRISING CHOICES!

A Gospel Reflection on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 4, 2026

I am filled with excitement and gratitude as our parish festival arrives. The spirit of preparation is alive in every person, every environment, and every activity throughout our parish. Everyone, from the most casual attendee to the most dedicated volunteer, looks forward to the celebration with hope, while those involved in planning are deeply invested in its success. Months before this day,Patrick, Steven, and the festival committee dedicated countless sleepless nights to organizing, strategizing, and managing logistics to ensure everything would flow smoothly. Parishioners had often been found practicing dances, rolling flour, and packing materials in the hall, while the office staff pour their energy into creating brochures, programs, and handling all the behind-the-scenes details. Last Saturday, Allan and Edsel and the Knights began building the stage, carefully joining wood and gathering screws to create the podium that will become the center point of our celebration. Though these efforts can be exhausting, our volunteers never lose sight of the goal ahead, persevering through every challenge. They inspire us all, reminding us that God has invested so much in us. He will not let us fail.

The difference between an owner and a hired worker is profound: the owner is intrinsically connected to what he possesses and will fight for it, while the hired worker seeks personal convenience, immediate gain, and abandons his duty in the face of hardship. Our attitudes reveal our true values. In the Confessions of St. Augustine, Monica’s prayers and tireless pursuit of her son Augustine exemplify steadfast love. She refused to give up, even when results seemed distant. I have met people who may seem harsh in business, yet are gentle and patient with family and friends, because love compels them to give their best where it matters most.

The Prophet Isaiah tells the story of a farmer who pours his heart into cultivating a vineyard on fertile ground. He spades the earth, clears away stones, plants the finest vines, builds a watchtower, and carves out a wine press hoping for a rich harvest. Yet, despite all his effort, the vineyard yields only wild grapes (Is 5:1-3). This echoes the experience of parents nurturing children, friends supporting friends, and teachers investing in students sometimes, despite our best efforts, the outcome is not what we hoped for. Yet, even in disappointment, there is a call to keep sowing seeds of love and faith.

There are times when we may feel angry or disappointed with those we love, but scripture reminds us that there is never a good enough reason to give up on them. Offer one more chance, perhaps this time will be the breakthrough that transforms a rejected stone into a cornerstone. We have all faced moments when we were tempted to walk away from a spouse, child, parent, sibling, community, or friend, whether because of their shortcomings or lack of worldly success. Yet, we are called to persevere in love, trusting that God’s grace can bring about unexpected transformation.

We do not abandon what we cherish. Instead, we nurture, tend, and care for our most valued treasures, giving our best even when it is difficult. Nothing truly good comes without effort; perseverance is always rewarded. I recently came across a saying: "You will never reach your destination if you stop whenever someone says something negative. The moment you give up is the moment you begin to lose." Let us press on with unwavering resolve, confident that our persistence will bear fruit.

St. Paul offers a powerful approach for facing life’s challenges: "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God" (Phil 4:6-9). He does not deny that we will worry but encourages us to bring every concern before God in prayer, trusting Him with our needs and responding with grateful hearts. Paul affirms with conviction: “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Phil 4:13). With faith and trust, we can overcome every obstacle.

God never gives up on us. The history of salvation is a testament to God’s enduring patience, forgiveness, and mercy. Throughout history, prophets, leaders, and ministers have been sent to draw us back to Him, for we are His cherished vineyard. As Scripture says, "On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe" (Heb. 1:1-2). God’s faithfulness is everlasting; there is always room for another chance. It hard to tell whose head is destined for the crown, the stone rejected by the builders may one day become the cornerstone. Such is the wondrous work of the Lord.

Let us then approach each day with renewed hope and trust in God’s providence.

May we never lose heart, even in the face of disappointment or rejection, remembering that God’s love for us is persistent and unfailing. As we care for one another, let us pray for the strength to persevere, the wisdom to forgive, and the courage to nurture the gifts within ourselves and in those around us. May God help us to see the potential in every person and every situation. May the Holy Spirit sustain us, so that, like the cornerstone, we too may become firm foundations for others. Amen.

by Father John Offor