A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (20:1-16)
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
REFLECTION: This Gospel, known as the “Parable of the Vinyard Workers”, is unique to Matthew’s Gospel. The owner of the vineyard hires day laborers at various times throughout the day. The ones hired at six o’clock in the morning put in a full day’s work. Those hired at five o’clock in the afternoon, put in only one hour of work. But the owner pays everyone a full day’s wage (a denarius). He goes out of his way to make sure that everyone knows that all are paid the same, in spite of the different number of hours worked. Would you say that is, Fair or Unfair?Have you at times being tempted, to envy God’s generosity to others?
The first group of workers in the vineyard, who worked all day, envied, receiving the same wage as the last group who worked only one hour. They were enraged at the Landlord, that others could receive an equal number of wages, for working way less, in essence, making them equal. In verse 15 of today’s Gospel, the landowner asks, “…Are you envious because I am generous?” The rest of the vineyard workers received their wages without complaint or envy of others. In the same way, as Christians, we should rejoice when others come to the Savior, as we should rejoice in the service others render to Him. He is faithful to reward us for our service as He has promised, and how He rewards others should be of no consequence to us, nor should it affect our devotion to Him.
Today is the Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Catholic Church. And through the lens of humility, and God’s generous grace, his life resonates with today’s parable’s implicit message, that comparing ourselves and our efforts to others, and demanding what we perceive as “fair” based on our performance, contradicts the spirit of God’s generous grace; –Saint Bernard, pray for us!
ACTION FOR THE DAY: As you reflect and meditate on today’s Gospel, focus deep, on how Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, are calling you to practice radical generosity and compassion to others.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
