Reflection on Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 20, 2026

Isaiah 55:6-9, Psalm 145, Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a, Matthew 20:1-16a

To me life is Christ, and death is gain

Near-death experiences* (NDE’s) can have a dramatic effect on the way people live for the rest of their lives. Some people experience the surprise of seeing themselves through Jesus’ own eyes, and a wonderful transformation begins. A new resolve inspires them to live better Christian lives, and speak to others about Jesus’ immense love and mercy.

Dr. Mary Healy’s near-death experience following a white-water rafting accident inspired her to reflect more deeply on heaven—and to share those thoughts with others. Whether or not we experience such an event, we can turn to Sacred Scripture each day to discover more deeply the surprising depths of Christ’s mercy.

Today’s readings encourage us to ponder seriously the truth that God’s ways are not our ways. Similarly, a few years ago, a wise commencement speaker in Minnesota reminded graduating students that their faithful God is also a God of surprises!

After urging scoundrels and wicked people to turn back to God’s mercy, the prophet Isaiah describes the difference between God’s ways and ours. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways….” Yes, God is transcendent. As Psalm 145 says, “His greatness is unsearchable.” Even more, he is also close to us, inside us, immanent. We must marvel at this! In this theme the same Psalm continues: “The Lord is near to all who call upon him….”

Likewise, Saint Paul desires the nearness of Christ. He does not fear death, as he writes to the Philippians: “…to me life is Christ and death is gain…. I long to depart this life and be with Christ.” We who are still in this life need to develop a relationship of honesty and trust in conversation with Jesus. Then we too can hope for eternal life as Saint Paul did. We can be confident of God’s merciful love for us, as long as we are merciful to others, as last week’s readings urged us to do.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus also reminds his listeners (us!) that he is surprisingly generous, beyond all expectations, since the workers who labored the least had the same recompense as those who had borne the day’s heat. If we try to live as Jesus did and humble ourselves before others we will not go without the pay we deserve. After all, we have God’s own words to meditate day after day: “the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

So high are my ways above your ways

And my thoughts above your thoughts.

*A deep personal experience that can happen during trauma, surgery, or

accidents and might include out-of-body insights, sensory or emotional elements.