Conahy Parish Bulletin September 20th 2020
A heart filled with love has no room for hate.
Faith is in every matter of life. The big events, and the small ones.
Conahy Parish Bulletin
Fr. Eamonn O’Gorman P. P. 087 2236145
Email: eamonnogorman123@gmail.com - Parish Website: www.conahyparish.ie
25th Sunday of the Year - September 20th 2020 v.28 n28
Mass Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. in Jenkinstown
Anniversaries: Annie Hennessy, 6th Anniversary
The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16) means different things to different people. I would like to see it as Jesus teaching us about being called by God and staying close to God when called. The householder went to the market-place to hire labourers. That was the place where the unemployed would wait each day hoping for someone to hire them. If they already had work, they would not have been standing by idly in the market-place. They were hired because they had nothing. God can only invite us, call us, and give us his gifts when we are open to receiving God’s gifts. For some, it may be easier to hear God speak when they are in the market-place with nothing else in life, when life appears to be in turmoil. When we are not in control God can take over and direct us. We see this in many characters in Sacred Scripture.
St. Paul was on the ground on the road to Damascus when Jesus spoke to him (Acts 9). When Jesus spoke to him, he was not riding along happily but was already on the ground. And even lying helplessly on the ground he was not ready for what Jesus wanted to tell him. Jesus told him to go to Damascus where he would be told what to do. He was blind for the three days before his baptism in Damascus. Paul spent three days in darkness, on an intense retreat, to prepare to receive the word that Jesus wanted to give him, to be his missionary to the Gentiles. Paul received his call to work in the vineyard when he was thrown on the ground and blind for three days. The good thief, as we call him, received the call on the last day of his life (Luke 23:42-43). Nailed on a cross beside Jesus he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) We could not find someone in a worse predicament in the gospel than nailed to a cross. But in that dreadful moment this thief had the humility to speak to Jesus and hear the beautiful words, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” If he had not been on that cross that day he would not have spoken to Jesus as he did, nor received the beautiful promise that he did from Jesus. The good thief had to be crucified to enter Paradise that day with Jesus. On the worst day of his life he was called to work in the vineyard because it was the only day he would stop to listen to the call. He had to be last in order to hear the call from Jesus to become first.
We would expect those who received the call first in the day to appreciate the unparalleled privilege they had received. But their grumbling, when they were paid the same amount as those who were called last into the vineyard, betrays what was really going on in their minds. Even though they worked in God’s vineyard from the beginning, they were not close to God. Their resentment towards those who came last betrayed what their problem really was; they did not know the love of God. It is possible that those who were hired last to work in the vineyard knew God’s heart better at the end of the day.
GAA News
Congratulations to the Conahy Shamrocks Intermediate camogie team on winning the County Final last Sunday.
Congratulations to the Conahy Shamrocks Junior hurlers on winning the County Semi-Final on Saturday. Every good wish to the team and mentors in the upcoming County Final.
Diocesan Designated Liaison Person, Mr Cathal Cullen, 087 100 0232 - dlp@ossory.ie ; Gardai 1800 555 222; Tusla – Kilkenny 0526177302OUR PARISH SAFEGUARDING REPRESENTATIVES ARE: Kathleen Maher 086 816 5667 or Sean Malone 087 759 2635
