Called at every hour of life

Sunday 20 September 2026

Lectio Divina:*

Isaiah 55:6-9 Psalm 145(144) Philippians 1:20-27 Matthew 20:1-16

Meditatio:

‘I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you’. (Matthew 20:14)

Commentary:

Many of us who live in relatively prosperous societies hope, with gratitude, to reach retirement in reasonable health. We may look forward to seeing children and grandchildren grow, enjoying friendships, and having time for interests that were often neglected during working life. Yet none of us knows what lies ahead. Some do not reach old age. Others encounter illness, loss, financial hardship, or loneliness. Life remains uncertain. As Christians, however, we do not place our ultimate trust in plans, pensions, or possessions. We live day by day in the providence of God.

This is the wisdom offered by the prophet Isaiah:

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).

Isaiah goes on to remind us that God's ways are not our ways and that his thoughts are infinitely higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). This is a humbling truth. We often imagine that we know what our future should look like. We create timetables for success, fulfilment, and even holiness. Yet God frequently surprises us. What appears to be a delay may become a blessing. What seems like a disappointment may open a new path of service. The Lord continues calling us throughout our lives, often in ways we do not immediately recognise.

As Christians, we are always called to grow. Baptism is not merely a past event but the beginning of a lifelong vocation. Through Baptism we become children of God and members of Christ's Body. Nourished by the Word of God and strengthened by the Sacraments, we are invited to grow in faith, hope, charity, wisdom and service.

St Peter reminds us:

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received (1 Peter 4:10).

God gives different gifts to different people, but every gift is given for mission. The Christian life is never simply about personal fulfilment or private spirituality. We are called to love and serve others, each according to our circumstances.

This calling does not end when paid employment ends. Retirement may mark the conclusion of one chapter, but it is not retirement from discipleship. There is no age limit on holiness and no expiry date on vocation.

This truth lies close to the heart of Jesus' parable in Matthew 20:1-16. The landowner goes out repeatedly during the day, hiring labourers for his vineyard. Some begin work early in the morning. Others are called at midday. Others arrive late in the afternoon. Yet all are welcomed into the vineyard and all receive the generosity of the master.

The parable is not primarily about wages or workplace fairness. It is about the surprising generosity of God. The kingdom operates according to divine mercy rather than human calculations. God's grace cannot be earned as if it were a salary. It is always a gift.

The labourers called late in the day are particularly striking. They explain that they have been standing idle because ‘no one has hired us’. They were not unwilling; they had simply not yet been called. Even so, the master seeks them out and gives them meaningful work.

There is an important lesson here for the Christian community. God continues to call people at every stage of life. Some discover their path early. Others find it only after many years. Some experience a renewed call after retirement, bereavement, illness or a major life transition. The Lord's invitation is never restricted to the young.

Indeed, many older Christians possess gifts that are urgently needed today: wisdom, patience, perspective, compassion, endurance and a deeper understanding of God's faithfulness. A culture that sometimes values people only for productivity can easily overlook these gifts. The Gospel does not.

There is much work to be done in the Lord's vineyard. Many people are hungry for authentic human connection. Many long for someone who will genuinely listen to them. Others struggle with loneliness, anxiety, grief or a loss of meaning. Behind many outward problems lies a deeper spiritual thirst that only God can fully satisfy.

The Church's mission is not merely to preserve buildings, traditions, or institutions, valuable though these may be. The Church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ and to help people encounter him. This mission belongs to all the baptised.

For that reason, Christian witness cannot be reduced to words alone. People are often persuaded less by arguments than by the example of a life shaped by the Gospel. The gap between what we profess and how we live should become steadily smaller. Charity, humility, forgiveness, and faithfulness speak powerfully in a sceptical world.

St Paul expresses this beautifully in today's reading from Philippians. As he reflects on life and death, his focus is not on personal comfort but on Christ. Whether he lives or dies, he desires that Christ be glorified. If he remains in this life, there is still work to be done for the Gospel. Therefore he urges the Philippians:

Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27).

That exhortation applies equally to all of us. Whether we are young or old, employed or retired, energetic or frail, we remain disciples of Jesus Christ. Every season of life offers opportunities for service. Some teach, some encourage, some visit the sick, some pray, some volunteer, some offer practical help and some bear silent witness through patience in suffering.

None of us knows how much time remains. What we do know is that the Lord continues to seek labourers for his vineyard. Isaiah calls us to seek the Lord while he is near. Paul urges us to live lives worthy of the Gospel. Jesus reminds us that God's generosity reaches those called at every hour of the day.

Whether it is morning, midday, or evening in our lives, the invitation remains the same: enter the vineyard, trust in God's mercy, and offer whatever gifts you have received for the service of his kingdom. The Lord is still calling and his ways are always greater than our own.