18 September

Once again, Jesus is talking to us about the kingdom of heaven in a parable.  When Jesus does this, we know that he is trying to explain to us how the world would be if the rule of God was obeyed universally.

Jesus is speaking about our concepts of justice – and God's concepts.  The scene Jesus paints would be familiar to anyone in the U.S. who knows the pick-up points for day laborers for farms or ranches around a particular city.  Jesus tells of an estate owner who hires workers in the dawn hours.  They agree on a penny or denarius, the official minimum wage for a day's work.  The owner goes out again and again during that day, so that the last to be hired have only about an hour's work.  However, when time comes to pay everyone working in the fields, they all get the same amount, a denarius.  Naturally there is grumbling about unfairness.  The owner dismisses the charge, claiming to be free to do as he wants with his money.

Notice what the unfairness charge focuses on.  No one can say he was given less than he should have been given.  The earliest made a contract, the others after that didn't, but they received more than the minimum rate.  What probably enrages everyone is that the last group hired got a whole day's wages for one hour's work!  Shouldn't everyone have been paid proportionately to the amount of the day worked?

Of course that's right, we say.  But Jesus' estate owner says no, not on his estate it isn't!  Why?  Because remember that this is a story about the kingdom of heaven, about God's ways, not our ways.  Jesus is teaching that God's way is more generous than human justice.  Human justice would have to be in minimal terms;  the contract with the first workers would be the measure and all succeeding agreements would be calculated downwards.  God's justice is that the first contract represents the level to which all others are lifted.

In daily life, what might this be about?  Let's consider two people.  One grows all his or her life in the knowledge of God and with faith, worshipping regularly.  In that life, God is a reality that brings meaning and joy and purpose.  The other person lives for many years without any thought of God.  To that person, faith is irrelevant, religion is for fools, Christ is merely an oath.  Then, at some point, everything changes for this person.  Faith and God become living realities, Christ lives!  There is purpose, new meaning, real joy, all now just as spiritually nourishing as in the first person's life.  One person has served Christ for many years, and the other has just discovered the life of service in Christ.  That is God's way.  And it can be mind-boggling for us.  God does not measure.  God gives the Holy Spirit abundantly!  Thanks be to God!

Peace,

Fr. Bob+