14th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 20:1-16 (NRSV)
The parable of the vineyard workers
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Reflection
This parable, or rather this situation, doesn't seem to fit into this world we live in. Sure the people would be mad who worked all day and didn't get paid more. Sure the landowner has the right to pay whatever she chooses. But this parable speaks to me more about payment in the kingdom of God.
Our work in God's Kingdom, in which we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Your Kingdom come." praying that God's Kingdom would come to us and that we may have the privilege to work in that Kingdom. It's not a chore to work here. God has already given us all that we need and gifted us with talents and resources to use in working in the Kingdom of God. This is an honor and privilege. This is an opportunity to serve God! It's great to work all day rather that just a few minutes at the end of the day. It's even more wonderful because the payment to work all day is just as much as it is just to work a few minutes. You would think that the pay would go down for the amount of time you got to work! After all you had more time to serve God!
Rejoice in the opportunity to work in God's Kingdom. The longer the better. And give thanks for those brothers and sisters in Christ that finally join in at whatever time in life they can... before it's too late! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Be with me this day as I go into your Kingdom to work. Show me the steps to take, the words to use, and the opportunities you give for service to you and my neighbor. Thanks for a wonderful opportunity to work and serve you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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