Magis Reflection on laborers in God's vineyard

Reflection

• Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

• From today's gospel (Mt 20:1-16):

  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.

  A nugget of wisdom that we Jesuit scholastics (seminarians) often hear is 'compare and despair'. In the long process of formation, scholastics are sent to different work experiments and have unique summer opportunities - some that are more appealing than others. Like any group of people that work closely with one another, one inevitably compares himself to others in the group. I work harder than he does. She's more affable and talented than I am. He dresses like a slob! She talks too much and doesn't pull her weight. Why does he get the special attention and promotions? These comparisons lead to an unhealthy fixation on deficiencies (others' or one's own), and causes despair and uncharitable thoughts.

  So too, in the life of faith. I can't seem to pray as well as she does. He is a living saint...and then there's the rest o f us. I can't believe she calls herself a Christian. He is a lazy free-loader. Certainly there is room for fraternal correction done in charity when we see things that need attention, especially if they give scandal. But our Gospel reminds us today that Christ calls us to labor in His vineyard -- not to supervise it.

  The challenge that dedicated believers face is not whether we are willing to work for the Kingdom of God. The subtle caveat is that we are willing to work for God conditionally-i.e., on our terms, making sure that we're getting an equitable reward. Prayer time in, grace out; devotion to God in, special favors out. Who cannot relate to the day laborers who began early and stayed to the end, only to get the same daily wage as those who straggled in toward the end? The stout human heart is far more calculating than God's generous one; how quickly we forget graces received when we compare our relationship to God with another's. We do well to recall that He has been generous and patient with us - especially at times when we were the late stragglers who received an umerited grace from God.

  '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."

  May the grace today be to labor joyfully in the vineyard, free from idle comparing and despairing.

  Mr. Joseph Simmons, SJ