Scripture: The Labourers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers 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 labourers 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 is a story about how God works, not about workers’ rights to fair pay! What it shows is that we cannot put in extra hours to win more of God’s love; we don’t earn our way into his good books by our good deeds; we can’t compete for his love as if it was a limited resource; and we can’t demand his love as of right. The kingdom of God is not a meritocracy!
In fact, it isn’t about what we do for him, but about what he does for us. He loves each of us generously and fully, he loves us equally and unconditionally. It doesn’t matter who we are, or how late we come to faith, what state we are in, or what burdens we carry, he is there, waiting to receive us with generous love. He gives us what we need and not what we deserve, thankfully.

Sarah Emanuel