Mt 20:1-16
[Jesus told his disciples this parable:] 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? This parable about workers hired for the vineyard is not about equal pay or legal wage. There are other angles in this strange story.
First, not everything is about money. There are people who willingly work for nothing as there are other people who are not contented even with a huge take-home pay. Sometimes it is about our relationship with our employers and with our co-workers.
Second, there will always be people with bigger pay, wider smile, better family, more wonderful environment. The issue is not what the neighbor has, but what we have!
Third, people may be unkind and ungrateful. So what? That does not mean we should act like them. We can decide to be generous like the Lord and believe that kindness will pay in the end.
Treat yourself today.