Some people, maybe even many, are puzzled by today’s Gospel parable. When we hear this story told by Jesus, we focus on the seeming injustice of those who worked for only one hour being paid the same as those who worked for a full day. The thrust of this parable, however, is not on justice but on God’s generosity even to the latecomer.
There is a joyous Easter homily by St. John Chrysostom that says in part, “If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; or they will suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them not fear on the account of tardiness … For the Master … has mercy upon the last and cares for the first … enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and whether first or last, receive your reward.”
The point is not how long they answered the call when it came. The call of the Lord to us to work in the vineyard can come at all the seasons of our life. It may come when we are young or in middle age. It may come in our senior years or even at the last moments. That call is proportionate to our ability and energy.
Our God is a generous God. There is a time for justice when the judgment comes. But now, in this life, is the time and season of mercy. We all need to ask ourselves these questions.
The first is whether we want God with a “hair trigger” sending punishment in the wake of every sin? How many saints would have survived the vagaries of their youth to be able to experience the conversion of life that led to their becoming saints if God had not been generous?
What about ourselves? Do we seek justice ahead of mercy? We know that for ourselves, we want mercy. We expect it. We depend upon it. We plan on it. Are we willing to be generous to others as the Lord is to us?
As has been said many times, we are a materially generous people. We have seen the outpouring of help given to victims in times of natural disasters. Are we willing to be as generous when it comes to forgiveness, patience, tolerance and understanding? It is much easier to give someone a coat rather than to give a second chance. It is much easier to give a check rather than an encouraging word. It is much easier to give someone in need a box of dry goods rather than to volunteer three hours of our time.
This parable speaks about God’s generosity to those who answer His call at whatever hour that call may come.
Are we willing to be generous to others as God is to us? The confessional that is found in every church is a reminder of God’s generosity to us at whatever hour of life we answer the call.
Fr. Krempa is pastor of St. Bridget of Ireland Church in Berryville.
http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=141
Year A - 25th Sunday in ordinary time
Why be envious because I am generous?
Matthew 20:1-16
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same.
6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’
7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’
9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.
11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (NRSV)
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In the parable of the laborers for the vineyard and also in the parable of the prodigal son, I want to stress the great Divine Mercy, so that you take it as the model for your generosity and mercy.
It is so easy to receive and indeed you receive so much daily, in fact you have been receiving daily all of your life. But when it comes to give, everyone becomes mean and possessive, then generosity is given with restrain. This is not what I teach, since I teach by my actions. I am the giver of all gifts.
I have said “give and you shall be given, be merciful and mercy will be shown to you“; so whatever you do for the least of my brothers will receive a reward. I assure you, you will always be rewarded for your generosity.
Whatever work you do in my kingdom will be repaid according to my mercy, not according to your measure. I forgave the thief on the cross who accepted me as his savior and who asked me to remember him when I entered my kingdom. He received the great gift that many virtuous men seek so eagerly and at such a cost with a simple act of faith and humility.
You should rejoice and be glad because of my great mercy. I died on the cross to forgive everyone who comes to me with sincerity, asking pardon for their sins and with a desire to amend their lives.
I don’t discriminate sinners, on the contrary, I have died for them and I would die again if it were necessary to bring them to me. I am the savior of the world, my job is to forgive and to save, I want everyone to benefit from my mercy, I want everyone to be saved.
The only condition for my salvation is humble repentance. I am willing to save even those to whom the world condemns; I am the God of the outcast, the rejected, the poor, and the sinful who are desperately in need of conversion.
For this reason I call everyone to be generous as I am generous, to help others as I help everyone. Share with others as much as you can, pray for sinners so that they also obtain the rewards that you yourself expect, do not discriminate, do not underestimate anyone.
At the last moment there will be great confusion, because some who expected to be first will be last and the last will be the first.
In the meantime work diligently for the kingdom of heaven. Be good without measure, when you have to do something for someone remember that you are doing it for me, when you see someone in need do not hesitate to help. Now you know that whatever you do for others you will be doing it for me. So, love one another as I have loved you.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary