Today's Gospel reading is disruptive to most people's versions of justice. I suppose that it's one of the reasons why I like it so much.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who sends his overseers to hire people at several times through the day. At the end of the day, starting with those who only did a few hours' worth of work, he pays every worker for a full day's wage. The ones who worked the entire day, having seen the ones who worked for a shorter period of time paid the full day's wage, are angered when they receive the same amount. The owner asks them why they are upset. They have received what was promised them. Why should they be upset that he was generous to others who were not as fortunate to find work at the beginning of the day.
This is what I love about Jesus's style. He asks us to examine our most basic prejudices, preconceptions, and desires. We are reminded in today's first reading that our "way are not [God's] ways," that God's thoughts are as high above our thoughts as the heavens are above the Earth. This isn't bragging; it's a challenge, a lofty standard that we need to stretch out and reach. In this case he warns us about "fairness."
"I worked longer, so I deserve more" is what the first workers are demanding, but God's justice is greater than that. What about the unlucky? What about those who still do the work, but join late due to circumstance? Doesn't everyone deserve the full day's wage?
I think of the men who gathered in job markets and street corners during the Great Depression. All of them needed money for their families. All of them were willing to take nearly any type of job. Some would wait around all day with nothing to show for it. Some would only get a few hours of work and thus a few hours of pay. Jesus tells us that ALL need to be fed, provided for, and protected.
Of course, this parable is often quoted when talking about our ultimate salvation, but I believe that Jesus is telling us that this relates to our day-to-day lives. Our economies should be based on this. Our lives should be lived this way. We need to rethink our concepts of fairness and justice. We need to grasp for the ideals that Jesus has set for us.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who sends his overseers to hire people at several times through the day. At the end of the day, starting with those who only did a few hours' worth of work, he pays every worker for a full day's wage. The ones who worked the entire day, having seen the ones who worked for a shorter period of time paid the full day's wage, are angered when they receive the same amount. The owner asks them why they are upset. They have received what was promised them. Why should they be upset that he was generous to others who were not as fortunate to find work at the beginning of the day.
This is what I love about Jesus's style. He asks us to examine our most basic prejudices, preconceptions, and desires. We are reminded in today's first reading that our "way are not [God's] ways," that God's thoughts are as high above our thoughts as the heavens are above the Earth. This isn't bragging; it's a challenge, a lofty standard that we need to stretch out and reach. In this case he warns us about "fairness."
"I worked longer, so I deserve more" is what the first workers are demanding, but God's justice is greater than that. What about the unlucky? What about those who still do the work, but join late due to circumstance? Doesn't everyone deserve the full day's wage?
I think of the men who gathered in job markets and street corners during the Great Depression. All of them needed money for their families. All of them were willing to take nearly any type of job. Some would wait around all day with nothing to show for it. Some would only get a few hours of work and thus a few hours of pay. Jesus tells us that ALL need to be fed, provided for, and protected.
Of course, this parable is often quoted when talking about our ultimate salvation, but I believe that Jesus is telling us that this relates to our day-to-day lives. Our economies should be based on this. Our lives should be lived this way. We need to rethink our concepts of fairness and justice. We need to grasp for the ideals that Jesus has set for us.
RSS Feed
