Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - Wednesday in the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
[Judg 9:6-15 and Matt 20:1-16]"'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." [Matthew]
AUGUST 21 ST. PIUS X, pope
Years ago, when I was a law student, there was a fundamental course in the first year of studies called simply :"Contracts." One of the basic ideas presented in that course was the concept of "offer and acceptance." I have found that idea handy in understanding discipleship in the Gospel According to Matthew. Jesus generously offers us a way to eternal life. He is under no compulsion to do so. We are under no compulsion to accept his offer. But, if we do accept it, we have to live according to his teachings. This can help us understand the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
The parable is not about unfair hiring practices, as some of the workers claimed. It is about the generosity of the owner who is determined to harvest his vineyard and is making the "offer" of work to as many laborers as he can. Each laborer receives an offer. The owner pays as he promises. The ones who have labored longer lost sight of the generosity of the owner and instead envied what other laborers received.
There is a temptation that I think occurs to most of us at one time or another to think that God has been unfair. "Why did God give such-and-such to so-and-so when clearly I deserved it far more?" If we have received the offer of discipleship and responded generously to God's generous offer, we have received and will continue to receive the benefits of that offer and acceptance. What God gives to someone else is God's business and God is not bound by our notions of fairness, i.e. who is first and who is last! AMEN