Deacon Tom Writes,
“Food For Thought”
Most of us tend to dismiss the story we hear in
today’s gospel. We don’t like its message; it rubs us the wrong way; it’s
contrary to the way we were brought up and our sense of “fairness”. We
rationalize that the person who puts in an 8-hour day should earn more than the
person who shows up on the job an hour before quitting time. I confess that I
would feel cheated if that happened to me. How about you? Can you blame those who worked all day
if they began to protest or for harboring a grudge against the landowner?
“God’s ways”
are not “our ways” are they? We know
that in our heads. We know that God has a different way of seeing things. In
today’s reading we see this element of justice from God’s viewpoint. We are a
work-oriented society in America today. I say that grossly aware of the many
unemployed and chronic under-employment that we are experiencing. Work is
essential to our economic survival and our personal identity. No work equals
not only no money but also no identity. And once chronic unemployment sets in,
one begins to suffer the degradation of the human spirit, which is a fully
unjust condition.
Today we read about a landowner who continues to
send workers into the field throughout the day. They work, and if you have ever
worked on a harvest, you know they worked hard! At the end of the day they must provide for their family. An
hour’s wage isn’t going to provide adequately for the family. The landowner
knows this… and so how does the landowner act? With justice and compassion; He pays the going daily wage to
each and every worker regardless of the number of hours they spent under the
sun.
Unjust? What if tomorrow you weren’t hired until 3
o’clock in the afternoon? What if you were the recipient of this landowner generosity….
his sense of justice? Would your attitude change if you were able to provide
for your family in good times and lean times?
Jesus teaches us in many ways that we have to
rethink our attitudes in how we treat one another. God’s way is the best way to
build and sustain a just society, one where everyone shares fairly in the work
and rewards of labor. We see that intention and opportunity are as important as
pure productivity in the kingdom of which Jesus laid the foundation.
We see God in today’s scripture as one whose
generosity is beyond our comprehension. We know from our knowledge of scripture
that God is good to everyone, that “he
makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just
and the unjust (MT 5:45).” This
is an amazing thought! For Jesus constantly challenges us to imitate Him and
see things the way that God sees them and to act accordingly… with justice,
mercy, and compassion.
Please keep all the victims of the recent natural
disasters in your prayers.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
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