Sunday, September 24, 2023
Jesus uses the parable of Workers in the Vineyard to tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like. In the story, a landowner contracts with several groups of laborers for a day’s work in his vineyard. Some he hires at dawn, others at nine o’clock, noon, three o’clock, and lastly a final group of laborers are hired at five o’clock. At the end of the workday, he directs his foreman to pay the laborers one group at a time beginning with the last and ending with the first. The workers who started at five o’clock and worked the least number of hours get paid a usual daily wage. This causes the workers that worked all day starting at dawn to think they would get more. But when it was their turned to get paid, they also got the usual daily wage causing them to grumble and complain. Can we blame the grumbling laborers for how they reacted? In today’s world, Human Resources or People Ops personnel would not allow this presumed injustice in the workplace.
This parable is mystifying. Most perplexing is the part in verse 4, that says: “You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.” How is God, represented in this parable by the landowner, consider that justice? Perhaps the prophet can clear the confusion. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8).
In our relationships, play, and work, we are taught from early on to keep score. When we receive a gift or an act of kindness, we reciprocate or at least show gratitude. When we run a race or play a game, we keep time and score. At work, we have metrics and goals we are expected to reach and often we are rewarded accordingly. We understand fairness and justice, at least monetarily or mathematically. But our ways are not God’s. When the disciples asked Jesus why He speaks to the people in parables, Jesus replied: “This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:13). Our human nature doesn’t always allow us to see or comprehend God’s ways.
As the tenth of His commandments, God commands us not to envy (Exodus 20:2–17). The Catholic church counts it as one of the seven capital sins. (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, para. 1866). So, what happens when envy is allowed to creep into hearts and displace genuine love? The Bible offers several accounts of such behavior that was condemned by God. Cain was envious of Able because God favored Able’s sacrifices (Genesis 4:1-16). Saul, the first King of Israel, grew jealous of David who was anointed by God to be the next King (1 Samuel 18:6-9). The older brother is jealous of how his father welcomes back his brother, the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
“Are you envious because God is generous?” (Matthew 20:15)
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.