Today’s Gospel is one of those that usually make us cranky. We end up grumbling, just like the laborers. It’s so unfair. It’s so unjust. Why do the workers that work hard all day in the vineyard get paid the same wage as those that arrive at the end of the day and work only one hour? We all know that this is a parable Jesus uses to illustrate the kingdom of heaven; I mean, He tells us that this is what it is at the beginning of the story, but somewhere along the way most of us forget that little tidbit and our brains switch to “it’s not fair” mode.
Let’s slip into the scene for a moment. In 1st century Israel, the marketplace, where these workers were waiting – some of them for most of the day – was not the local corner pub. When Scripture says they were, “standing idle,” it doesn’t mean they were twiddling their thumbs and killing time. The marketplace was like the local temp agency. Workers would go there in the morning, hoping for work for the day – think of the Depression Era men in long lines waiting to see if they could get any kind of job for a day. The fact that some of the 1st century laborers stuck around until 5pm when the workday officially ended at 6pm shows how desperate they were for work, even just an hour’s worth. In hiring them at the end of the day, the landowner in the parable gives them the dignity of honest work. Imagine the difference that would make to them. Instead of having to trudge home and face their wives and hungry children empty-handed, they’d be able to say that they earned a little something. Now, imagine the way they would’ve felt to be able to go home and say that they got a full day’s pay! Imagine the difference that would make to their families. Is it fair? Maybe not, but thank God – literally!
Let’s look for a second at tomorrow’s Gospel, too. September 21 is the Feast of St. Matthew, so the Gospel is Jesus calling him to follow. You know his story. Matthew, formerly known as Levi, was a Jewish man that worked for the Romans as a tax collector. He would’ve been shunned by other Jews because of his profession. As a tax collector, Matthew took money from his own people to give to those subjugating them. He was reviled, but when Jesus came along and said, simply, “Follow me,” Matthew did, without hesitation from what we can tell in the story.
Both of these Gospels reveal the overabundant mercy of our God. The way He raises our dignity, even though we don’t earn it; the way He invites us to be with Him, no matter our past; the way He welcomes us to His vineyard and table, whether we arrive there early in the day, midafternoon, or come a little late to the party – so long as we accept the offer to come, we are welcome! Take a moment and reflect: do I want God to be fair? Dishing out what is deserved? Or do I want God to be generous and overly abundant with His grace? To be clear, God is just, but His mercy triumphs (see James 2:13). I need every ounce of mercy He wants to generously “pay” me. Pray this week and ask God to pour into your soul every bit of the mercy He desires to give you!
