Mt 20:1-16
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 1“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ 5So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. 6Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
7They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 8When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. 10So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. 11And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ 13He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?14Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? 15[Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ 16Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Reflection:
Are you envious because I am generous? A company was forced to lay off workers because of economic difficulties. Some of the employees who were retained lamented how pitiful the laid off workers were. So the owner told the complaining employees, “If you really care for them, I propose that we cut your salaries in half to rehire and pay your former co-workers.” The employees replied, “Oh, maybe they will find other jobs.”
While we work on compensation and reward, on input and output, God is pure mercy and goodness. That is God’s nature. As the parable concludes, “Are you envious because I am generous?”
Instead of appreciating God’s goodness and love, we often prefer to complain. When gratitude fills our hearts, there is no space or reason to compare or to complain.
List five things you are most grateful for today.