Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 21, 2014 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Isa 55:6-9; Phil 1:20c-24, 27a; Matt 20:1-16a]"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. [Matt.]
Why doesn't God act the way we Americans expect God to act in certain circumstances? One reason for this is that we bring our American cultural expectations to a Middle-Eastern story and expect the characters to act the way we Americans would act! It shouldn't [but it does] surprise us that the characters behave differently and with different expectations. This understanding will help us with the gospel story today.
In the Middle-East, the owner would not have been expected to hire anyone. That he does hire someone is considered a gift. In the case of each set of laborers, however, he makes a different deal. To the first set, he promises "the usual daily wage." To the second he promises, "Whatever is just." To the third, he makes no promises at all! In the end, he pays everyone the same, and starts with the last group! The first group forgets their "deal" and complains.
How do our "American" expectations make us react to this gospel story. Is the owner being arbitrary? Remember who the owner really is! Are we envious of the owner because he has a vineyard? Are we envious of the last group because they worked less and got the same pay? Do we know what our "deal" with God is? God takes care of us all but each of us may be different. That should appeal to our American individualism, but there is a "price" to pay for that individualism. Oh, the gospel always turns things upside down. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. AMEN
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