Go work in my Vineyard

Judges 9:6-15, Mt. 20:1-16. The story from today's first reading is a strange riddle that use details from everyday life and report of actual events. Like parables, their purpose is to spur us to think. Jotham’s riddle is a cry to heaven for revenge. The tyrant Abimelech connived with the people of Shechem to kill his rivals and young Jotham barely escaped alive. Then from the heights of Mount Gerizim, Jotham shouted his dramatic riddle, as a curse on his enemies. Those who violently seized power will themselves be destroyed by violence. The last plant he lists, the buckthorn, when chosen as king, provides no shade but will destroy both itself and all that is nearby.

When speaking in today's parables, Jesus used the language and imagery of His own time and place. Therefore, when He uses the parable of the vineyard workers it is irrelevant to discuss the social injustice of the estate-owner, who was paying only a denarius a day, a minimum wage for those who worked all day but more than was due to anyone who worked only an hour in the cool of the evening. The punch-line says that new arrivals are equal to those who have been there first. God does not deal with us according to our merits, giving us only what we deserve. Divine mercy is freely given to those who have no claim on it. In a sense, we can identify with those who worked only an hour; for we are all, in a sense, latecomers. God’s generous grace will surprise us and leave us humbled.

May the Lord grant us a cheerful and generous heart and help us to bring joy to our homes, work and all whom we meet! Amen!! Good morning and have a wonderful day!!!