THE SURE FORMULA

 

THE SURE FORMULA

“And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’” – Matthew 20:11-12

Do you want to be unhappy all your life? Here’s a simple formula that never fails: Be ungrateful! The grumblers in today’s Gospel are thankless for two major reasons. First, they believed they are better than many. Second, they deserved the blessing anyway.

Rather than saying, “Thank you!” for their wage, they launched a long litany of reasons why they’re supposed to be special and the rest undeserving. “This is long overdue. I worked hard. I suffered under the sun. I earned every penny I made. Me receiving the same as the rest of the guys is a huge mistake! God has to apologize to me!”

Friend, if you still believe you deserve all the blessings because you’re a “self-made” person, that everything you have is because of your hard work, please understand: Many of those who worked hard yesterday didn’t wake up today. If you still think that you woke up because of the alarm clock, try putting it beside the ears of a dead man. Then you’ll know that everything is God’s mercy.

Start your day by thanking God. Then joy will soar! Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflect: List down five blessings you’ve forgotten to thank God for. Thank Him for each in between breaths. Feel the joy flood your soul.

Father, for all the things You’ve done, and for all You’re yet to do, thank You. May I not forget to be grateful for all of them.

St. John Eudes, priest, pray for us.