Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner

who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,

he sent them into his vineyard.

Going out about nine o'clock,

he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard,

and I will give you what is just.'

So they went off.

And he went out again around noon,

and around three o'clock, and did likewise.

Going out about five o'clock,

he found others standing around, and said to them,

'Why do you stand here idle all day?'

They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.'

He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'

When 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.'

When those who had started about five o'clock came,

each received the usual daily wage.

So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,

but each of them also got the usual wage.

And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,

'These last ones worked only one hour,

and you have made them equal to us,

who bore the day's burden and the heat.'

He 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?

Take what is yours and go.

What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?

Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?

Are you envious because I am generous?'

Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Reflection

This parable that Jesus teaches exposes something about human nature that’s frightening, in a sense, it's our arrogance. Human beings do not seem to have any problem in determining who God is or how God should act. When you think about that, it's ludicrous. Who are we to tell God who he is? Yet people feel that they have a just reason to do that, because it's what they believe, and they impose that on others.

It terrifies me about the role of ministry in the church, because you're the one up there telling people who God is, and if your not surrendering to the reality of who he is, you are dangerous.

Closing Prayer

Father, make us aware of what we really say and what we really think at times about God. Make us question whether or not we really are deciding who he is. Nothing is more important than an open heart that simply says everyday, God teach me who you are. Show me who you are and let me learn. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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