Sunday, September 24, 2023

TWENTY-FIFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

(Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16)

The readings today are fairly well-known. The first is part of the fascinating chapter of the prophet Isaiah in which God describes his word as rain bringing life to the earth. It is said that the gospel parable has had the popularity of that of the Prodigal Son at certain times in history. And the second reading of the Letter to the Philippians gives one of the most intimate confessions of the apostle Paul. Let's leave it for another time to reflect on the gospel through the optic of the prophet.

In one sense it is nothing new that the Lord's ways are different from ours. After all, God is of a different order than us. In fact, it is absurd to try to compare ourselves with God. He is not a being among other beings like any other man or woman. He is the basis of all being. Therefore, when we talk about God, we always speak in an analogical way, which is to say, “something similar,” realizing that He is a mystery beyond our understanding. It is like how we talk about our dog “loving us” when it lies at our feet. Its display of affection in no way comes close to the love between a man and a woman who have given themselves to one another in a faithful marriage. Although we cannot come close to matching God’s goodness, Jesus still calls us to be like Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

With both the distinction between God and us and the command to imitate God in mind, we can examine the gospel. The story Jesus tells here meets the classic definition of a parable as a tale taken from ordinary living whose conclusion surprises in a way that causes the listener to reconsider his life. Certainly upon hearing the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” the Jews had to reconsider their attitude toward the Samaritans. The parable of “The Laborers in the Vineyard” works in the same way. As much as the workers employed in the early hours of the morning, we are surprised when they receive the same pay as those who worked only one hour. But that's how God is - more generous than can be imagined. He is not unfair to anyone. He pays those hired in the morning the promised wage. But he has no qualms about treating others with great generosity.

This parable has been used to understand how the Greeks could inherit the Kingdom of God as much as the Jews who practiced the demands of the Law for centuries. It can also be used to explain how some born in solid families whose parents raised them with faith as well as love can have the same fate as some who, due to deficiencies in their upbringing, struggled to live just lives. However, the parable is open to another interpretation. It asks us to treat everyone with God's generosity whether they deserve it or not.

In our house sometimes someone leaves their dirty dishes in the sink. When I see them, I feel outraged because the person who left them should realize that everyone has the responsibility to clean their own dishes. This attitude is not necessarily unjust, but neither does it imitate God's ways. Certainly the saints would clean other people's dishes. Saint Martin de Porres, in fact, helped everyone, rich and poor, giving whatever he had without measure. All of us are called to do likewise by our acceptance into God’s family.

Being generous like God will demand a lot from us. But it's not impossible. With Jesus Christ as our model and companion we can fulfill the mandate. Present to us in the community of faith, Jesus supports us in the struggle. And in the Eucharist, he strengthens us to do hard things.

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16)

The lay woman was complaining about the injustice to religious sisters two generations ago.  She reiterated the fact that those valiant women labored in Catholic schools for thirty dollars a month.  Then the woman compared that system with the current way teachers receive less than counterparts in business. Was the system back then really unjust?  And how about the current payment of teachers: is it fair?

As always it is necessary to consider the context when evaluating moral actions.  The sisters had vowed to a life of poverty.  Also, the people they served were often poor themselves.  They sacrificed themselves for the glory of God and the benefit of the children they served.  They may be equated to the workers in today’s gospel that bear the day’s heat only to receive the minimum of support.  But unlike at least one of those workers, they did not grumble.

In God’s Kingdom all workers receive a just wage.  That wage takes account of family needs as well as the principle of equal pay for equal work.  Of course, it is no simple matter to balance all claims to justice.  Nevertheless, it should be said that teachers have an enormous responsibility.  When they fulfill it faithfully, they do deserve an income commensurate with peers in industry.  They also merit our appreciation and gratitude.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Judges 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16)

“Some people have all the luck,” we say when we wonder why others have better looks, bigger muscles, or more brains than we.  We are like the workers in today’s gospel who come to complain about the supposedly unfair pay they have received.  They want to do something about the matter.  People today think that they can do something as well.  They want to manipulate their genetic makeup so that at least their children may look better, feel stronger, and think more swiftly.

But even scientists warn that it’s a bad idea to try to determine future outcomes by genetic manipulation.  Human makeup is so complex that trying to improve one part of it may well result in injury to another.  Also, success in life is more than the sum of one’s looks, strength, and intelligence.  It is best to accept one’s genes for what they are and then strive to become the best person that one can be.

Jesus indicates as much in the parable.  Those who complain about the salary they receive are sent packing by the owner of the vineyard.  Meanwhile those who work hard and receive gratefully what they are given appear doubly blessed.  We are wise to take our cues from them.  Let us not worry about our shortcomings but make most of the talent given to us.  We are wise to thank God daily and ask His help to be His true daughters and sons.

Wednesday, August 17, 2017

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16)

To turn green with envy is to show a very sick complexion.  It is used to indicate the sickness of soul that imbues people who resent the good fortune of others.  They cannot understand that they have no right to what others possess.  They would rather sulk in their lack of some desired good than be grateful for they have.  Envy colors some of the laborers in Jesus’ parable today.

Reading this parable, one must remember that Jesus is not giving a framework for worker relations.  Trying to justify paying workers the same wage for different amounts of work would be trying to square a circle.  Jesus’ intention lies elsewhere.  He wants to explain how God’s mercy extends to all people and will ultimately meet everyone’s needs.  Those who worked the whole day receive a just wage.  They may be content that the owner of the vineyard paid what was agreed upon.  Those who work only the last hour but receive the same wage should be grateful that they have enough to feed their families.  God dispenses graces freely, but He does not deny anyone his Holy Spirit.

We ought to be careful that envy does not overtake us.  It happens when we think too highly of ourselves or too little of others.  A much healthier tack in life is to cultivate gratitude.  We should daily recall God’s goodness and strive to use our talents for the benefit of all.  

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Judges 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16)

In An Introduction to Christianity Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, writes of the “law of excess or superfluity.”  This evangelical principle claims that Jesus’ righteousness goes far beyond what is necessary for the salvation of fallen humanity.  The term expresses the infinite graciousness of the Kingdom of God which Jesus came to the world to initiate.  In today’s gospel parable he gives a verbal illustration of this graciousness.

The parable is one of the most astounding in the four gospels.  Laborers are all paid the same amount despite the fact that some worked all day and others merely an hour.  It does not seem that the latter deserve as much as the former.  But the landowner is merciful.  He recognizes every man’s need to support his family and will graciously pay all workers accordingly.

The story should make us both grateful and charitable.  We – all of us -- are those latecomers who have not worked to receive the salvation Jesus offers.  We all sin but find ourselves being perfected through the sacraments.  This should make us grateful.  We are also to imitate God’s mercy by patiently teaching others how to live virtuously.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Memorial of Saint Pius X, pope

(Judges 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16)

The young woman comes to work once a week.  She goes to the mail room, and if there is any paper to be shredded, she does that.  If not, she may sit there for the rest of the afternoon.  Because of her severe retardation, she cannot do anything but the most menial of tasks.  But who would deny her the little bit of money she likely receives for reporting to work?  Here is the lesson that Jesus means to teach his disciples in today’s gospel.

The passage troubles most readers because one of the principles of worker justice is that each worker is to be paid according to the value of his/her contribution to the end product.  This measure guards against cronyism in which workers with close relationships with the manager are paid more.  Jesus is saying that truly just compensation must consider other factors than labor input such as the need of the worker.  Paying a day laborer the “usual daily wage” would give him just enough money to take care of his family, no more.  If the owner paid the workers who come late in the day less, their children would probably not have enough to eat that evening.

The parable coming directly after Jesus’ assurance that those who make sacrifices for his sake will inherit eternal life warns us against greed.  We need sufficient resources to take care of our families, but we also need to foster the kind of society where all people can do the same.  To be sure, it is a complicated task.  But our disavowal of greed comprises a major step in its realization.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16)

Although it sounds trendy, we might think of the Kingdom of God as a complex of niche markets. Where most enterprises appeal to a basic clientele, who must take or leave the product depending on their benefit or loss, the Kingdom has an assortment of attractions to accommodate almost everyone. We get a glimpse of how the system works in the gospel today.

Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who offers jobs to different workers at different hours of the day. Rather than pay each according to the work done, he gives all the same wage, which is just enough to support his family for one day. In this way no one is left in need, and no one should gripe since all received what was agreed upon in the landowner’s respective offer.

The system seems unfair since it does not compensate according to the rule: equal pay for equal work. But if we think of airline pricing, a good example of niche marketing, it may make more sense. Latecomers are charged more for the same ride because their need is more urgent. Similarly those who like lots of leg room have to pay a premium for their comfort. It is important to remember, however, that we are given the parable not to justify God’s ways but to marvel at God’s mercy. Jesus is telling us that God’s Providence takes care of everyone.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezekiel 34:1-11; Matthew 20:1-16)

Although it sounds trendy, it may help us to think of the Kingdom of God as a complex of niche markets. Where most enterprises appeal to a basic clientele, who must take or leave the product depending on their benefit or loss, the Kingdom has an assortment of attractions to accommodate almost everyone. We get a glimpse of how the system works in the gospel today. The landowner offers jobs to different workers at different hours of the day. Rather than pay each according to the work done, he gives all the same wage, which was just enough to support his family for one day. In this way no one is left in need, and no one should gripe since all received what was agreed upon in the landowner’s respective offer.

The system seems unfair since it does not compensate according to the rule, equal pay for equal work. But if we think of airline pricing, a good example of niche marketing, it may make more sense. Latecomers are charged more for the same ride because their need is more urgent. Similarly those who like lots of leg room have to pay a premium for their comfort.

It is important to remember, however, that our role is not to justify God’s ways of doing things. Rather we are to marvel at God’s mercy. Jesus offers the parable to show how God’s Providence meets everyone’s needs.