Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 - 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 23 ST. ROSE OF LIMA, O.P.
In the USA, and probably in many other places, the owner of the vineyard would be subject to a lawsuit under the Fair Labor Standards Act or its equivalent!!! In reading this parable, we must be careful not to read our modern political and social laws and customs into it, as if God is subject to those. The parable is a challenge to the religious authorities of Jesus' day who were smug in their "deal" with God and could not imagine God extending an equal or better "deal" to others. The problem is a common one in which we translate our wants into "rights" and expect God to behave accordingly. There is also the common problem of comparing ourselves to others and concluding that God has "cheated" us.
The deeper problem goes all the way back to Genesis. Once we humans get the notion that we are in charge of the universe and God is our employee, all kinds of mischief can happen, In human beings (but not in God), power corrupts. In the parable, God is faithful to the covenant made with the first workers. God is also generous to other workers. The additional problem of "envy" creeps in. The first workers had the usual expectation of the daily wage until they saw the owner's generosity to others. As usual, Jesus' parables can shine a light on our darker corners and challenge our usual assumptions and expectations. AMEN