In light of today’s Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16, 25th Sunday in OT) allow me to put a number of scenarios before you which are similar in nature to today’s Gospel. These cases are rare and exceptional, yet they do happen sometimes.
Jane a senior at the local high school is a good soccer player. She is committed, hard working, disciplined, a great teammate, and produces on the field. However, as the soccer season begins the coaches have a dilemma, there is a freshman girl who plays the same position, and she is a soccer phenom as they say. She is clearly better than Jane, and not only does she have talent but she is like Jane in many ways, also a great teammate, hardworking, etc. The coaches think about moving Jane to another position, and yet, those positions are secured as well. What are the coaches to do?
The coaches sit Jane down explain the situation and decide to start the freshman and will substitute Jane in at different intervals. Jane is upset, as any good athlete would be, but she humbles herself and thinks of her team and dedicates herself even more to becoming a better player.
Case number two: Michael has been working for a large reputable corporation for twenty five years. He is on the cusp of middle management, seeking a promotion thereto. He is one of three leading candidates. The other candidate will likely receive a promotion in another department; the final candidate is twenty eight years old has been with the company for three years, and is quite educated possessing two master’s degrees as where Michael only has one Bachelor’s Degree. Michael, however, is not that concerned that his education is not as extensive as his competition, his 22 more years experience will carry him to the next level. Eventually, however, the company decides to go with the younger candidate, citing to Michael that the younger candidate has had better success in his three years, his ideas are closer to what they need in that department whereas Michael may be needed in another area but he will have to wait another year for that position. Michael leaves work upset, after so much good effort, dedication, and love of his job it seems the company is saying, “Out with the old and in with the new.” Michael becomes indifferent, he harbors some resentment but decides to continue at his company but his effort becomes stale and he does enough just to get by until retirement, never achieving his dream or that promotion.
Case number three: A priest who has been ordained for 15 years, currently a pastor, well liked and a good reputation within the diocese is being considered as a Monsignor and a job at the Chancery Office. He feels he is a shoe in; he has friends in high places. However, Bishop decides on someone else. The priest is very upset. He is angry at his Bishop; his brother priests whom he believes failed him. This priest becomes bitter, and his bitterness is taken out on his parishioners, brother priests, and he becomes miserable all the time. His priesthood is not based on service but on accolades. Somewhere along the line he traded in service for ambition or at least the two became entangled and left him caught in a web.
Each case has something in common; all three folks are challenged with humility and forced in some way to look at the bigger picture. The girl handles it best, the manager is so-so, and the priest’s reaction is worst. I bring these cases up because they reflect the Gospel, but they only reflect it in shadow, because the Gospel is much more serious than playing on a soccer team, being promoted to middle management, or becoming a monsignor, it has to do with salvation and that God is willing to give it to whomever may ask for it. It does not matter if they lived holy lives for a hundred years or even for a couple of seconds, all receive the same wage – eternal life.
This seems very unfair in our society of paying people fairly for their work, assuming that we do, which I doubt – pay people fairly that is; nevertheless we do not like the sound of it. It seems unjust. Our goal is to be in relationship with Christ and help others to do so. Our objective is to be with Christ always that means our desire is to see God face to face in heaven and be there with him forever. That desire carries over to our neighbors, and our neighbors are everyone, REPEAT – EVERYONE.
We get caught up to often in what belongs to me, what I deserve, that’s mine, all of it based on the most evil sin there is, PRIDE. Should we rather not be cheering for the soul who steals heaven in the last few seconds of his life, or do we really desire that people go to hell. Stop and think for a moment how long eternity really is. Do I want anyone to go there? Is that what God desires or does not God rather desire that the sinner turns from his evil ways and lives, (c.f. Ez. 18:23, 31)?
Pray then for your own salvation, do not stand off on the side of the road waiting to be hired, the Lord is passing by and looking for workers to work his vineyard, get on board, get to work, it doesn’t matter when you arrive, but just remember the day’s wages are all the same, heaven!
Fr. John
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