THE GENEROSITY OF A VINEYARD OWNER
First Reading: Isaiah 55:6-9
Second Reading: Philippians 20: 24-27
Gospel Reading: Matthew 20: 1-6
* First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Prophet Isaiah urges the people of Israel to turn away from their evil and sinful ways and return to the Lord God. He tells them and us too that the Lord God's ways are not our ways. The Lord God in His infinite wisdom has His own way of dealing with us that may not be always to our liking. Often we try to shape the Lord God according to human understanding and ways of thinking which may not correspond to the way the Lord God deals with us.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Philippians. Paul expresses his deep conviction that to live for Christ or to die for Christ is the same for him. His only ambition is to proclaim and glorify Christ and be united with Him always. This message of Paul should rule the hearts of all who follow the Lord.
"The last will be first and the first last." (Reversal of values in the Kingdom of God)
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the vineyard owner and his generosity is narrated in great detail. The owner gives a day's wages (one denarius) for everyone who worked in his vineyard no matter whether the person worked just one hour (one who came last) or the person worked the whole day (one who came first). The owner's generosity makes those who worked the entire day dissatisfied and angry. The question of the vineyard owner to the disgruntled workers is very relevant: "Have I no right to do what I have with my own?" This parable may seem quite strange and unjust at the outset for many of us. Some may even think that the vineyard owner is not understanding the feelings of those who toiled all day. According to one Biblical Scholar, the parable does not depict reckless, arbitrary action of the owner. Rather it shows the behaviour of a largehearted man who is very compassionate, kind and full of sympathy for the poor and the deprived. It is out of pity for their poverty that the owner decided to give them a full day's wages. If not, their families would be starving that day. Through this parable Jesus is expressing the unlimited goodness, compassion and graciousness of a kind and loving God and not about labour relationships. Often we grudge others who are in some way more favoured by God. Sometimes we are not ready to accept God's unlimited generosity. Hence through the parable Jesus gives us a lesson that it does not matter when we come to the Kingdom of God: early, middle or at the last hour. All that matters is that we are part of His Kingdom.
"For it is in giving that we receive." -St. Francis of Assisi
"Generosity is giving more than you can." - Khalil Gibran
"Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone's day." - R.E. Goodrich
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