BEADS OF JOY 08-17-16
“Workers In The Vineyard”
©2016 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
My Friends,
Today’s Gospel: Matt 20:1-16 (Workers
In The Vineyard)
“For
the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning
to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a
denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third
hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, `You
go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went.
Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And
about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to
them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, `Because no one
has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.' And when
evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers
and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' And when
those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a
denarius.Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last."
Reflection:
Today’s gospel indeed shares extraordinary generosity and absolutely equality with all who were chosen; in the eyes of the one who hired everyone to work in his vineyard. He saw no difference between those who worked through the heat of the day and those who only worked for one hour. They were all paid equally. He simply seen them equal in that they wanted to work. They all were out seeking a day’s wager so that they can return home to feed their families and not go home hungry. A day without work meant a day without food for themselves and most likely for their families. Hunger and poverty was more than real in Jesus’ time. There were no government food cards or Walmart’s in town. Families did help families, but most families were in the same predicament.
God’s generosity and love in our lives for us is endless. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are guided and led to Jesus to honor Him and to serve others. Do you use your labor and talents cheerfully to serve the Lord and to serve others? And even more than that… Do you give to those in need generously like Jesus’ example today? I know most of us can’t be like the one who did the hiring in this parable taught today, but some of us can. I know I am poor, but we know in our own poverty we can still give of our love, our compassion, a hug, a card, a call, share a meal. There are so many ways even in our poverty the poor can help the poor.
Today I have learned that no matter what the circumstances are, there are no excuses to be able to help someone in need. We should all be looking out for one another, helping one another, making sure one another is in some way being taken care of. And should there be any question, then we should do all we can to try to find a way to help direct those who can help them, to them. Our goals in life really shouldn’t be so self-centered; they really should be more others-centered. We’d all live in a much better, more peaceful world if we all did. Let us pray for peaceful generosity amongst one another. A truly commendable goal.
LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
