1st
February Trinity
Matthew
20: 1-16
The
kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of his house, who went out
early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Agreeing to pay them one
denarius a day, he sent them out into his vineyard.
At
about 9 o’clock he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace, and he
said to them, “Go also into my vineyard, and I will give you whatever is
right.” So they went.
He
went out again at about noon and at 3 o’clock and did the same. At 5 o’clock he
went out and found others standing there, and he said to them, “Why do you
stand here all day idle?” They said, “Because no one has hired us.” He said,
“You, too, go into the vineyard.”
And
when evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, “Call the
workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going
on to the first.”
Those
who had been hired at 5 o’clock came forward, and each received one denarius.
Therefore, when it was the turn of those who were hired first, they expected to
receive more. However, they too also received one denarius each. They took it,
but they began to grumble against the master of the house. “These men who were
hired last only worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne
the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”
However,
he answered one of them, saying, “Friend, I am not being unjust to you. Did you
not agree with me for one denarius? Take what you have earned and go. I wish to
give to the man hired last the same as I give to you. Have I not the right to
do as I wish with what is mine? Or do you give me an evil look because I am
generous? Thus will the last be first and the first will one day be last. “
First February Trinity
February 3, 2013
Matthew 20: 1-16
In the economic sphere, modern thinking often applies a
hierarchical standard based on production numbers. And what one is paid is
often kept secret.
Amazing that the gospel presents a pay situation of full
disclosure. The master contracts with each worker for just enough to support
his life for a day. Those working more hours did not earn more. Nor did those
who worked fewer earn less. Each simply received the day’s need, for doing as
much as they could. The day’s wages are given on the basis of daily need and on
human dignity, not on the number of hours worked.
Christ offers this story as a likeness of the kingdom of the
heavens, which is a kingdom arising in human hearts. He shows us that expecting
more than, more than what others get, more recognition, more praise,
more pay than others, is not what we human beings on earth have actually
contracted for. For the true being of the economic sphere flourishes in an
atmosphere of brotherhood.
We have all agreed to work on fields of earth. Our work on
earth gives us the opportunity to earn both the integrity of our selfhood, and
a healthy relationship to our fellow workers.
In order to develop both, we must avoid comparisons. Some
come early to the field, some late. Comparing ourselves with others, and
expecting more for ourself is deadly here. It poisons our both integrity
and our cooperation. For we have no way of knowing another human being’s true
standing. And we have no right to denigrate their contribution to the work.
All we can be sure of is that the Master’s task is
urgent—the harvest needs to be brought in. And we need all the workers we can
get. It’s not about what is more advantageous to me or even about what appears
to be fair. We are working for the Father. The Father will give us what we need
for our daily bread.
