Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus
told his disciples this parable: “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. Going out about nine
o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them,
‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they
went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did
likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and
said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no
one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening
the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give
them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those
who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So
when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of
them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the
landowner, saying, ‘These
last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore
the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘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.”
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Reflection:
A lady
who was always envious of her neighbors would always complain to God why they
are rich while she is not. Considering the fact that during weekends she is in
the church doing volunteer work. Thus, she thought that God is being unfair to
her.
Months
and years had passed, her complaint to God was still the same: “Why is it that
they are rich while I am not? Then,
one night she had a dream and in that dream God said to her: You only measure
the blessings that I bestow upon you by the money and properties that you
possess.
God
further said to her: Yes you are not blessed materially but look at your very
successful and very well brought-up children. Look at your loving husband that
has been faithful to you since day one of your married life. Look at your
health, nobody amongst your family members has been to a hospital for health
issues. Suddenly the woman had a realization that she was far more blessed by
God than her neigbor.
The
workers in the vineyard who worked early complained about wages and that is material
wealth or money! They failed to realize that they were first assured of the
day’s work by the landowner early of that morning. And surely it created
already a guarantee that they have something to feed to their families for the
coming days. Unlike those who came in late who were not assured until late in
the afternoon that they would have money to buy food for their respective
families.
When we
account the blessings that God gives us let us not solely focus on money or any
material wealth because we might complain also. Let us rather have a holistic
appreciation of God’s blessings for us. Such as peace and good health in our
respective family, faithfulness and tranquillity in our married life . Plus
many more blessings that cannot be compensated by any amount of money.
Are we
not often times like the lady who envied her neighbors? Are we not often times
like the workers in the vineyard who complained because they were so fixated on
the wage that they had received? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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