Fr Joseph Harris was ordained co-adjutor Archbishop of Port of Spain on September 14.
Gospel Mt 20:1-16a
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, the landowner 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, the landowner 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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How difficult it is to love especially those who offend us without reason because of their own problems and not because we have done anything wrong. Yet we worship a God who loves without measuring.
The Gospel given to us for our meditation this weekend describes for us in the form of a parable the action of this God whom we worship. What is interesting in this story is the attitude of the landowner who went out to hire labourers. I would think that he would have hired all that he needed at dawn, yet he went out again and again and invited all who were idle to go to the vineyard. At the end of the day he probably had more workers than was really necessary but his concern seems to have been the welfare of those who had no work and would probably therefore not have enough for their families at the end of the day. The concern was not the amount of profit but rather the wellbeing of those who had not been hired. In this the landowner was being very faithful to the Deuteronomic code which enjoined on all Israelites the obligation of providing for the indigent in their midst. During the boom of the seventies, the great calypsonian Sparrow sang a song called “Capitalism gone mad”. In it he excoriated those who thought only of profit at the expense of those who depended on them for goods and services. In this Sparrow is not alone. All the Popes, from Leo XIII, have also condemned the placing of profit above every human need. The parable then, gives us an insight into the mind and heart of God. “God’s grace and forgiveness are totally not merited, and is given equally to those who have worked hard and to those who haven’t, to those who have been faithful for a long time and to those who jumped on-board at the last minute, to those who have had to bear the heat of the day and to those who didn’t, to those who did their duty and to those who lived selfishly. It is important to remember as the Gospel tells us that God makes his sun shine on good and bad alike; that God’s love isn’t a reward for being good, doing our duty, resisting temptation, bearing the heat of the day in fidelity, saying our prayers, remaining pure, or offering worship, good and important though these are. God loves us because God is love and God cannot not love and cannot be discriminating in love. God’s love, as scripture says, shines on the good and bad alike.” (Fr. Ron Rolheiser)
While we are willing to accept this teaching when it refers to ourselves, we find it difficult to accept this teaching when it applies to those who have done all sorts of wrong things, who have been back sliders, to those who have come in at the 11th hour. Sometimes we might even feel that we have to forgive God for being so loving to those who in our estimation do not deserve his love. What is more important is that we are called to have that all encompassing non discriminating love if we are to be members of the Kingdom. It is for that reason the Jesus begins by saying; “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. Disciples of Jesus, members of the Kingdom love without discriminating. Since we all become our habits, if we build the habit of non-discriminating love into our lives then like the Father, our love will shine on good and bad alike. This is how the saints loved. It is to this that we are called.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, the culture in which we live tells us that we must look after ourselves first and then think of others. Your Son Jesus however taught us something very different. Give to us your people generosity of spirit so that we may be concerned about others and their legitimate needs. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother and our Lord Jesus, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen
