This episode features a homily delivered by Father Paul at St. Mary Academy, where he explores the Gospel parable of the vineyard workers to challenge the common feeling that life, particularly the Christian life, can feel "unfair".

The Parable of the Vineyard

Father Paul recounts the Gospel story where a landowner hires workers at various times throughout the day, including some hired with only one hour left. When it's time to be paid, the landowner pays the last workers hired a full day's wage (a fair wage, perhaps $100), and then pays all the other workers the exact same amount, including those who worked all day.

The expected reaction from the full-day workers is, "That's not fair!".

A Lesson in Generosity

Father Paul shares a personal story about his first job in high school, where an elderly couple hired him to trim trees on their farm. When asked what he should be paid, he boldly suggested double the minimum wage, or $14 an hour. The couple's surprising reply was, "Oh, we think we should pay you $20," and they even ended up paying him $22 an hour, gave him lunch, and let him set his own hours.

He reflects on the fact that he realized years later the couple likely did not need his help as much as they simply wanted to spend time with him and teach someone how to be generous.

The Christian Life is Unfair (to Your Advantage)

Father Paul applies this lesson to the students' lives:

• Students may sometimes feel that the Christian life is hard or unfair, citing the demands of church, studying, and high expectations.
• He tells the students: "Guess what, it is unfair!".
• However, he emphasizes that the unfairness is to the students' advantage, as they are receiving more than they deserve, not less.
• No one earned the opportunity for an education or the ultimate gift of Jesus dying on the cross. We deserve eternal punishment, but God offers forgiveness and a chance to live the Christian life.

Christ, the Reason for the School

Father Paul directs the students to find a sign in the school that says: "Be it known to all who enter here, that Christ is the reason for this school. He is the unseen but ever-present teacher.". The ultimate reason for their education is not wealth or success, but Jesus Christ, who simply wants to be with them and love them in a way they don't deserve.

He concludes by offering the graduates a choice: to be like the workers who received their fair wage but complained, or to be like the ones who received the generous gift and thankfully accepted it.

Being a SAINT Changes Lives, and when you give a gift to support our SAINTS, it changes your life too.

Choose YOUR impact at lightofchristfoundation.org.