“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 (Mt. 20:1-16).”
This parable is about God’s generosity which he showers upon all. The vineyard represented Israel and a denarius was a day’s wage. The parable illustrates the rewards for disciples of Christ and the reversal of fortune for those who reject Christ. The men who started work at dawn were promised a day’s wage. The workers hired later in the day were promised what was ‘just.’ Each worker received a day’s wage which vexed the workers who worked a full day. God’s standard of justice is different from our human standard of justice. God rendered to each what God thought was his due. St. Augustine said, “Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new.” Should a person who responded to God’s call late in life like St. Augustine receive less grace that a person who responded to God’s call from childhood and served God his whole life? It was God’s grace that prompted both to act in the first place, so is God not free to do with His grace as he pleases? Better that we ponder the unearned mercies and grace we have been granted throughout our lives and be grateful with our whole heart for all God has done for us.
Lord God of mercy, we judge things as right or wrong by our human standards. We give you thanks for including us in your plan of salvation. Grant us your divine wisdom to view life through the eyes of faith and live in the light of Christ. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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