25 OTA.11; Isa 55:6-9; Phil 1:20-27; Matthew 20:1-16
Today we are asked to think deeply about, “What is fair and just?”
Jesus pulls no punches in this parable of the Vineyard Workers
The idle workers in this parable aren’t loafers. They’re laborers who need a job. The fact that they’re still waiting at 5 p.m. shows how badly they need work. In the time of Jesus, if a man didn’t find work today, his family often didn’t eat tomorrow. A man who found work early in the morning rejoiced all day, & so did his family. Had the early workers not learned the employer paid the latecomers a full wage, they would have gone home joyful.
As it was, they went home angry.
The latecomers stand for repentant sinners. The early workers stand for those who resented sinners entering the kingdom late & getting the same reward they did. Yet, they all agreed to the usual daily wage.
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard can seem like a paradox, can’t it? Why would the owner hire people at different times of the day, yet pay everyone the same amount of money? In the world’s eyes this might be considered an unjust labor practice or at the very least employee favoritism.
But Jesus had a different economic model in mind. He was asking his disciples … to think the way God thinks. As owner of the “vineyard” that is the kingdom, God is not concerned with pay equity as much as with mercy. In the parable, everyone who worked a full day received a just compensation for their labors. But the owners heart broke to see others go without enough to feed their families, & so he gave them what they needed as well. The early morning hires began to complain only when they saw his generosity. They knew deep down that they were being treated fairly; they just weren’t used to seeing someone be as merciful & generous as this man!
God indeed is great in his mercy! Consider how many times in the course of a day you fall short of the calling God has for you. Consider how often you fail to reach the ideal not just in terms of your behavior but your thoughts, your desires, & your attitudes. And still, all you need is to ask for forgiveness & it’s all wiped away. Heaven is still yours, just as it is for those who have lived more perfect, nearly sinless lives.
God overlooks so much in our lives. At the same time, God smiles on every small act of kindness; God rewards every little sign of love; & God
2 rejoices in every good decision. Our God cannot stand the thought of any human being living apart from divine joy & eternal happiness in heaven.
God’s passion, God’s relentless quest for us, is to invite all peoples to discover how valued they are and to live in the joy & goodness of the kingdom. (Source: The Word Among Us, 7-8/11)
What is our response to this parable: hostility, distrust, or excitement?
How is our own generosity being stretched?
How is our compassion growing in the spirit of our amazing God?
Do we ever find ourselves resenting the good fortune of others?
One time a Sunday school superintendent was registering two new sisters in Sunday School. When she asked them how old they were one replied, “We’re both seven. My birthday is April 8th & my sister’s is April 20th.” That superintendent replied, "That’s impossible girls." The other sister then spoke up & said, "No it’s true, one of us is adopted."
"Oh," the superintendent said, "Which one?" The two sisters looked at each other & one said, "We asked Dad that question awhile ago, but he just looked at us & said that he loved us both equally, so much so that he couldn’t remember … which one of us was adopted."
(Source: eSermons.com/God’s Little Lessons on Life for Women, Honor Books)God loves us all, equally. We are loved, not because we have earned God’s love or deserve it, but because of God’s generous, foolish love for us.
At this Liturgy of God’s Mercy to us, come let us celebrate God’s generosity today. Rejoice in God’s kindness toward us.
While we were lost in sin, he gave up his only Son to bring you back.
And even today, should we lose our way, Jesus will take us back in a heartbeat.
He knows our weaknesses.
He knows our needs.
He sees into the darkest places that even we can’t see & still he loves us. Still he pours his blessings upon us.
Still he welcomes us! Now, accept the challenge of Jesus ….
Today we are asked to think deeply about, “What is fair and just?”
Jesus pulls no punches in this parable of the Vineyard Workers
Are you envious because I am generous? Mt 20:15
…well, are you?
The idle workers in this parable aren’t loafers. They’re laborers who need a job. The fact that they’re still waiting at 5 p.m. shows how badly they need work. In the time of Jesus, if a man didn’t find work today, his family often didn’t eat tomorrow. A man who found work early in the morning rejoiced all day, & so did his family. Had the early workers not learned the employer paid the latecomers a full wage, they would have gone home joyful.
As it was, they went home angry.
The latecomers stand for repentant sinners. The early workers stand for those who resented sinners entering the kingdom late & getting the same reward they did. Yet, they all agreed to the usual daily wage.
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard can seem like a paradox, can’t it? Why would the owner hire people at different times of the day, yet pay everyone the same amount of money? In the world’s eyes this might be considered an unjust labor practice or at the very least employee favoritism.
But Jesus had a different economic model in mind. He was asking his disciples … to think the way God thinks. As owner of the “vineyard” that is the kingdom, God is not concerned with pay equity as much as with mercy. In the parable, everyone who worked a full day received a just compensation for their labors. But the owners heart broke to see others go without enough to feed their families, & so he gave them what they needed as well. The early morning hires began to complain only when they saw his generosity. They knew deep down that they were being treated fairly; they just weren’t used to seeing someone be as merciful & generous as this man!
God indeed is great in his mercy! Consider how many times in the course of a day you fall short of the calling God has for you. Consider how often you fail to reach the ideal not just in terms of your behavior but your thoughts, your desires, & your attitudes. And still, all you need is to ask for forgiveness & it’s all wiped away. Heaven is still yours, just as it is for those who have lived more perfect, nearly sinless lives.
God overlooks so much in our lives. At the same time, God smiles on every small act of kindness; God rewards every little sign of love; & God
2 rejoices in every good decision. Our God cannot stand the thought of any human being living apart from divine joy & eternal happiness in heaven.
To what does parable invite us today?
Is it not about living generously as signs & witnesses to the reign of God? God’s passion, God’s relentless quest for us, is to invite all peoples to discover how valued they are and to live in the joy & goodness of the kingdom. (Source: The Word Among Us, 7-8/11)
What is our response to this parable: hostility, distrust, or excitement?
How is our own generosity being stretched?
How is our compassion growing in the spirit of our amazing God?
Do we ever find ourselves resenting the good fortune of others?
My friends the usual daily wage is … God’s mercy.
Mercy is what we need not what we deserve. Listen to this story ….
One time a Sunday school superintendent was registering two new sisters in Sunday School. When she asked them how old they were one replied, “We’re both seven. My birthday is April 8th & my sister’s is April 20th.” That superintendent replied, "That’s impossible girls." The other sister then spoke up & said, "No it’s true, one of us is adopted."
"Oh," the superintendent said, "Which one?" The two sisters looked at each other & one said, "We asked Dad that question awhile ago, but he just looked at us & said that he loved us both equally, so much so that he couldn’t remember … which one of us was adopted."
(Source: eSermons.com/God’s Little Lessons on Life for Women, Honor Books)God loves us all, equally. We are loved, not because we have earned God’s love or deserve it, but because of God’s generous, foolish love for us.
At this Liturgy of God’s Mercy to us, come let us celebrate God’s generosity today. Rejoice in God’s kindness toward us.
While we were lost in sin, he gave up his only Son to bring you back.
And even today, should we lose our way, Jesus will take us back in a heartbeat.
He knows our weaknesses.
He knows our needs.
He sees into the darkest places that even we can’t see & still he loves us. Still he pours his blessings upon us.
Still he welcomes us! Now, accept the challenge of Jesus ….
Are you envious because I am generous? Mt 20:15
…well, are you?