It's Never Too Late
Sermon
We Walk By Faith
Gospel Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Middle Third)
The term "late-bloomers" refers to people who respond later in life to an invitation, but still manage in the end to accomplish great things. History has known some famous late-bloomers. Fortunately for us, early or late, these people followed their special invitation offered by God, achieved much, and made the world a better place for all.
Anton Bruckner was a late-bloomer. Many people are not familiar with his name, but those who listen to classical music certainly know him and his music. Bruckner lived in Austria in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Following in the footsteps of his father, he worked as a butcher. From his earliest days, however, he held a great love for music and thus as a youth was trained in musical composition and assisted in a local church as a part-time organist. He was a very simple man who cut his hair in a "butch" style and wore old and tattered clothes so as not to be mistaken for a person of wealth. Although his life was simple, it was full and tranquil. Yet, at the age of 41 he heard a performance of Richard Wagner's famous opera Tristan and Isolde which electrified him and transformed his life. He decided to quit his job and dedicate himself completely to musical composition. By the end of his life Bruckner had completed, among many other works, nine symphonies, several of which are still regularly played by symphony orchestras around the world.
The world knows Albert Einstein as a genius in the field of science and a great theoretician, but in his early life most would never have believed he possessed such talent. As a boy growing up in Germany, many people thought him to be ignorant. He failed courses in mathematics and showed little aptitude for technical knowledge. He was very rebellious and rejected learning, thus showing little evidence of the intellectual aptitude he possessed. Einstein was far from backward; he simply was bored with the lack of challenge presented to him. Later in life, as we know, it was Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the ideas it generated which propelled the world into our present nuclear age.
Saint Augustine, one of the finest Christian minds and greatest saints who ever lived, was also a late-bloomer. Augustine wandered about for thirty years trying to find himself. He tried different religions, including paganism and the religion of the holy man Mani, known today as Manichaeism. He fathered a child out of wedlock. Eventually, through the prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, he was converted to Christianity. Saint Augustine's response to his conversion is found in a famous line from his autobiography, The Confessions, "Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!" Augustine became a bishop and a great scholar; he was one of the most famous men who ever lived.
Each of these men received an invitation. One invitation was to music, another was to science; the third was an invitation to greater service of God and God's people. The skill required to succeed was always present with these men; it was God's gift to them. The invitation to use these skills for the betterment of the world came sometime later. Once the invitation was accepted and the skill applied, it became a permanent part of who these people were. Although the opportunity arrived in "the afternoon of life," its acceptance produced an abundance for the world.
Scripture is filled with examples of how God invites His people to enter the vineyard and continue the work of the Lord. Today's familiar Gospel parable of the laborers in the vineyard speaks of God's invitation, which may come early or late, but is always extended. In the parable, workers are sent to the field. Some are sent in the morning; others about mid-day. Some workers are sent in mid-afternoon and still others are not sent until late in the day. The workers labored for various amounts of time; they accepted the call at different hours. Yet, their reward is all the same. Our natural reaction, influenced by our contemporary society, is like those in the parable: confusion or even anger. "It is not fair," we say, "equal work for equal pay." Such an attitude, although normal for our day, misses the principal point of the story. Jesus wants us to know that God's invitation to join Him is always present; it is never too late to say yes and accept the invitation.
The mystery of God's call cannot be easily understood. We look around us and see others who seem to be wasting their time on people, ideas, and material things which draw them away from God. They don't seem to have heard the call or given one thought to accepting God's invitation. We must accept the fact that God does not work on a human timetable to which we have all, in lesser or greater degrees, become slaves. God's invitation comes at different times for all people. The important point is that we must be prepared when God calls. God is ever present and never ceases to search for us diligently, as Francis Thompson tells us in his immortal poem, "The Hound of Heaven," but the opportunity to enter the vineyard may only come once and we must be ready to accept the invitation of a lifetime.
It is difficult for us in today's society to accept the attitude of total and unconditional love that Jesus demonstrates through the invitation he offers to us. Humans tend to limit God, since all we know is the finite world. We even place God in human categories. But we are reminded by Isaiah the prophet that the ways of God are not those of humans: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts [higher] than your thoughts" (55:8-9). God does no injustice at all in showing mercy to others. God wants us to be with Him; that is the reason we were created. Thus, the Lord will never fail to provide the opportunity that will lead us home. We are all given the invitation; acceptance, however, is our choice.
It is never too late for us! All of us have received many invitations from the Lord. Sometimes we have accepted God's invitation; some invitations are still awaiting our response. And yes, sometimes we have passed by or even openly rejected the opportunities sent by God. The invitation may have been too challenging or too difficult, or possibly we were not ready for it. We must be alert to God's call so that the joy, peace, and blessings which only God can give may be showered upon us today.
Scripture challenges us to accept God's invitation, which takes many forms and consists of varied things. Perhaps the invitation is to integrate ourselves more completely into the life of the Church through our weekly communal celebration of praise, participation in parish activities and services, or reflecting on how we can better serve God and God's people in ministry. Maybe the invitation is to accept a new direction in life -- a new job, place to live, or lifestyle. Changes like these are filled with uncertainty and thus create some fear, but with trust in God we can see them better as special invitations, for it is never too late with God. Possibly the invitation is to participate more fully in the life of our civic community through our participation in efforts to make a difference in our dynamic and increasingly fast-paced world -- it is never too late. Maybe the invitation is to rediscover or to renew an old or frayed relationship, through friendship and Christian love -- yes, it is never too late. Maybe, yes just maybe, the invitation is to renew our personal relationship with God through prayer, ministry, or contemplation. Possibly God is calling us to enter the vineyard, whether it be the morning, afternoon, or twilight of our lives. It is never too late with God.
The invitation of the Lord is given this day. God's generosity is at times unbelievable, but as Isaiah says, God's ways are above our ways. Let us accept God's invitation in whatever form it comes. Like Anton Bruckner, Albert Einstein, or Saint Augustine, we may be late-bloomers, but then in God's eyes it is never too late. Let us, as Saint Paul suggests in his letter to the Philippians, "live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ" (1:27a) by accepting God's invitation and returning to the Lord, the source of all that is good.
Anton Bruckner was a late-bloomer. Many people are not familiar with his name, but those who listen to classical music certainly know him and his music. Bruckner lived in Austria in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Following in the footsteps of his father, he worked as a butcher. From his earliest days, however, he held a great love for music and thus as a youth was trained in musical composition and assisted in a local church as a part-time organist. He was a very simple man who cut his hair in a "butch" style and wore old and tattered clothes so as not to be mistaken for a person of wealth. Although his life was simple, it was full and tranquil. Yet, at the age of 41 he heard a performance of Richard Wagner's famous opera Tristan and Isolde which electrified him and transformed his life. He decided to quit his job and dedicate himself completely to musical composition. By the end of his life Bruckner had completed, among many other works, nine symphonies, several of which are still regularly played by symphony orchestras around the world.
The world knows Albert Einstein as a genius in the field of science and a great theoretician, but in his early life most would never have believed he possessed such talent. As a boy growing up in Germany, many people thought him to be ignorant. He failed courses in mathematics and showed little aptitude for technical knowledge. He was very rebellious and rejected learning, thus showing little evidence of the intellectual aptitude he possessed. Einstein was far from backward; he simply was bored with the lack of challenge presented to him. Later in life, as we know, it was Einstein's Theory of Relativity and the ideas it generated which propelled the world into our present nuclear age.
Saint Augustine, one of the finest Christian minds and greatest saints who ever lived, was also a late-bloomer. Augustine wandered about for thirty years trying to find himself. He tried different religions, including paganism and the religion of the holy man Mani, known today as Manichaeism. He fathered a child out of wedlock. Eventually, through the prayers of his mother, Saint Monica, he was converted to Christianity. Saint Augustine's response to his conversion is found in a famous line from his autobiography, The Confessions, "Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!" Augustine became a bishop and a great scholar; he was one of the most famous men who ever lived.
Each of these men received an invitation. One invitation was to music, another was to science; the third was an invitation to greater service of God and God's people. The skill required to succeed was always present with these men; it was God's gift to them. The invitation to use these skills for the betterment of the world came sometime later. Once the invitation was accepted and the skill applied, it became a permanent part of who these people were. Although the opportunity arrived in "the afternoon of life," its acceptance produced an abundance for the world.
Scripture is filled with examples of how God invites His people to enter the vineyard and continue the work of the Lord. Today's familiar Gospel parable of the laborers in the vineyard speaks of God's invitation, which may come early or late, but is always extended. In the parable, workers are sent to the field. Some are sent in the morning; others about mid-day. Some workers are sent in mid-afternoon and still others are not sent until late in the day. The workers labored for various amounts of time; they accepted the call at different hours. Yet, their reward is all the same. Our natural reaction, influenced by our contemporary society, is like those in the parable: confusion or even anger. "It is not fair," we say, "equal work for equal pay." Such an attitude, although normal for our day, misses the principal point of the story. Jesus wants us to know that God's invitation to join Him is always present; it is never too late to say yes and accept the invitation.
The mystery of God's call cannot be easily understood. We look around us and see others who seem to be wasting their time on people, ideas, and material things which draw them away from God. They don't seem to have heard the call or given one thought to accepting God's invitation. We must accept the fact that God does not work on a human timetable to which we have all, in lesser or greater degrees, become slaves. God's invitation comes at different times for all people. The important point is that we must be prepared when God calls. God is ever present and never ceases to search for us diligently, as Francis Thompson tells us in his immortal poem, "The Hound of Heaven," but the opportunity to enter the vineyard may only come once and we must be ready to accept the invitation of a lifetime.
It is difficult for us in today's society to accept the attitude of total and unconditional love that Jesus demonstrates through the invitation he offers to us. Humans tend to limit God, since all we know is the finite world. We even place God in human categories. But we are reminded by Isaiah the prophet that the ways of God are not those of humans: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts [higher] than your thoughts" (55:8-9). God does no injustice at all in showing mercy to others. God wants us to be with Him; that is the reason we were created. Thus, the Lord will never fail to provide the opportunity that will lead us home. We are all given the invitation; acceptance, however, is our choice.
It is never too late for us! All of us have received many invitations from the Lord. Sometimes we have accepted God's invitation; some invitations are still awaiting our response. And yes, sometimes we have passed by or even openly rejected the opportunities sent by God. The invitation may have been too challenging or too difficult, or possibly we were not ready for it. We must be alert to God's call so that the joy, peace, and blessings which only God can give may be showered upon us today.
Scripture challenges us to accept God's invitation, which takes many forms and consists of varied things. Perhaps the invitation is to integrate ourselves more completely into the life of the Church through our weekly communal celebration of praise, participation in parish activities and services, or reflecting on how we can better serve God and God's people in ministry. Maybe the invitation is to accept a new direction in life -- a new job, place to live, or lifestyle. Changes like these are filled with uncertainty and thus create some fear, but with trust in God we can see them better as special invitations, for it is never too late with God. Possibly the invitation is to participate more fully in the life of our civic community through our participation in efforts to make a difference in our dynamic and increasingly fast-paced world -- it is never too late. Maybe the invitation is to rediscover or to renew an old or frayed relationship, through friendship and Christian love -- yes, it is never too late. Maybe, yes just maybe, the invitation is to renew our personal relationship with God through prayer, ministry, or contemplation. Possibly God is calling us to enter the vineyard, whether it be the morning, afternoon, or twilight of our lives. It is never too late with God.
The invitation of the Lord is given this day. God's generosity is at times unbelievable, but as Isaiah says, God's ways are above our ways. Let us accept God's invitation in whatever form it comes. Like Anton Bruckner, Albert Einstein, or Saint Augustine, we may be late-bloomers, but then in God's eyes it is never too late. Let us, as Saint Paul suggests in his letter to the Philippians, "live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ" (1:27a) by accepting God's invitation and returning to the Lord, the source of all that is good.
