He's saying to his close friends, the ones he called into service with him, those who left everything to follow him: be careful; don't take things for granted; watch out that you put too much emphasis on yourselves and miss the most important part: the graciousness of God. 

Wednesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Judges 9:6-15

Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

M atthew 20:1-16  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (2) After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (3) And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; (4) and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. (5) Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. (6) And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' (7) They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' (8) And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' (9) And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. (10) Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. (11) And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, (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 a denarius? (14) Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. (15) Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' (16) So the last will be first, and the first last."

* M editation by Tom Shanahan, S.J. 

T he gospel for today is one of those parables whose meaning puzzles and eludes us.  It is the well-known story of the landowner who goes to the appointed place to hire people to work in his fields.  He goes out early in the morning and formally contracts with some workers for a day's wage.  They agree and come to work in the man's fields.

He repeats the action of finding workers at several points along the day and finally at the "eleventh hour" he hires even more.  The only (but very significant) difference in his interaction with the workers in getting them to his fields is that he says NOTHING about wages to these later employees, even the ones who would only work for an hour.

The whole parable points to and culminates with the dramatic statement of Jesus, "the last shall be first and the first shall be last."  This pronouncement of Jesus and the content of the story boggles our minds; what's it all about?  It sure seems as though the story is not about violations of social justice -- the landowner contracts with the workers for their day's wages and they are paid that amount at the end of the day; so all seems to be on the square.  But what about those hired later and especially the "eleventh hour" workers: they get the exact amount for their labor that the ones who bore the brunt of the day got!  This may not seem fair to us but how can we gainsay the generous heart of the landowner?

Often the parable is applied to the Jews as the early workers laboring all day and the latter day employees as Christians.  But that doesn't seem to line up well with how Jesus wants to point the story. 

The key to understanding the story is the audience to whom the story is proclaimed in Matthew's gospel, "Jesus told HIS DISCIPLES this parable:"

That easily missed clause makes the whole difference, I believe.  He's saying to his close friends, the ones he called into service with him, those who left everything to follow him: be careful; don't take things for granted; watch out that you put too much emphasis on yourselves and miss the most important part: the graciousness of God.

In other words it's not up to the amount of work that is done or how much "heat of the day" is endured, or even how well the work is done.  It all depends on God's call and invitation.  That's where you (disciples) need to focus yourselves, and not on grumbling against those you think don't deserve the wages for which you contracted.

Again, the parable is not about social justice or about labor relations.  It's point is God's genreosity in giving freely to ones who don't deserve what they are graciously given (not by EARNING God's love). and as always the response to such liberality is GRATITUDE.  And who does that apply to?

That applies to you and me, latter day disciples laboring alongside of Jesus in His Kingdom.  WE are the "eleventh hour" people who receive the benefits of God' graciousness.  We are the ones who are constantly being confounded by God's wondrous generosity.  We are the ones called into gratitude for His Goodness.

S upplementary Reading

RulE BREAKER

It is against our Law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath! – Matthew 12:2

“Lance, stop that!” I ran to catch up with my two-year-old son who was gleefully driving his tiny car on the rooftop and ramming into everything on sight.

“Don’t hit the clothesline!” I was worried he’d hurt himself, but the more I admonished him, the more determined he became to hit it.

“This is my last warning or else I’m going to take that car away from you!”

The threat fell on deaf ears, and I realized that I was going about it the wrong way.

I kept teaching him through warnings and threats but the lesson was lost because I never taught him the reason for all the rules.

Sometimes, we Catholics dismiss the sacraments and traditions, or else we follow blindly what others say we need to do, without understanding the reason for the actions. What could be meaningful is reduced to a mere ritual or obligation, and the opportunity to get closer to God is lost.

“Lance, please stop because you might get hurt. I love you and I don’t want to see you hurt yourself,” I said in a softer tone.

“OK, Mama. I’ll go down,” he replied with a smile.

I gave a sigh of relief. Cecil Lim (Kerygma)

R EFLECTION:

Find out the meaning behind the actions and professions connected to our faith. You’ll find that everything brings you closer to Christ.

Lord, help me seek the truth that will lead me to You.

• 08/15/2009 19:20 - Aug 24, 2009 - Monday Meditation (Come and See, Jesus)
• 08/15/2009 18:15 - Aug 23, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Seeing With the Eyes of Faith)
• 08/15/2009 17:46 - Aug 22, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (Humble Servant Like Jesus)
• 08/15/2009 01:17 - Aug 21, 2009 - Friday Meditation (The Faithful One!)
• 08/15/2009 00:57 - Aug 20, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Costly Grace)

• 08/15/2009 00:05 - Aug 18, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Unshackled from Wealth)
• 08/14/2009 23:49 - Aug 17, 2009 - Monday Meditation (Possessions - Obstructions)
• 08/14/2009 05:19 - Aug 16, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Faith in the Life Giving Bread)
• 08/13/2009 03:13 - Aug 15, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Body and Soul)
• 08/13/2009 02:36 - Aug 14, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Jesus High Ideals on Marriage)