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This week we read the Gospel of St. Matthew 20:1-16. If you recall, it is the simple story of a landowner hiring day laborers for his vineyard. The story is interesting and straightforward. The landowner needs workers and, as in our own time, goes down to the town square and finds laborers waiting to be hired. This could be any place in America. The story takes a twist, however, when it is time to pay the day laborers their wages. As you may recall, the landowner went into town three times to look for help. The rub comes when the help are to be paid. Paying wages becomes contentious. The first hires worked a full day; others, a few hours. This sets the first group grumbling: they did more work, yet the wages were the same for all, regardless of when they were hired. To be honest, you can feel the injustice, but Jesus is making a teaching point in this parable. This is not a gospel about labor equity and management’s responsibility. We are talking about envy, life focus, and God's generosity.
The parable is less a story than a snapshot of how many Christians see their own work as being a Christian. What do I mean by that? How often do we compare ourselves with others in our church community? We compare our worthiness to another, and jealousy creeps in, and yes, we become dissatisfied. We did this and that and never got recognition for our efforts or made donations that never got credit. There is a sense of injustice. We have worked hard to be good people, dedicated many hours to projects, and donated ample funds to Church efforts. Our lives are always an example to the community, both local and Church. In short, we are somebody worthy of praise and gratitude. Yet we see others who have not been as dedicated to tasks or even to a good life being honored. It makes us angry. The landowner says in the scripture passage, "Are you envious because I am generous?" This is the human problem of envy: we resent it when we see the advantages and success of the other people around us. God judges and grants grace where he wills; he does not keep a scorecard and give evenly as we may expect. God's ways are not ours; Jesus told us this many times. But I think Scripture is saying YOU are an individual, and God sees our needs. He is asking us to see our own lives and not judge what others have: honors, material goods, celebrity. God knows us and sees us; this is not a personality contest. He is all just, and we cannot often understand or see what he is doing. We must care for our own path and leave others alone on theirs. To put it in common language, it's none of our business what He pays the vineyard workers.
This Chapter 20: 1-16 of St. Matthew was one of my mother’s favorites. Years ago, she had heard a sermon that used this gospel. When I was growing up, my mother would often quote, "Put some grapes in the basket." "Don't look at what your neighbor is doing; just worry about what you are doing. Worry about your basket. Other people’s baskets are not your concern. This sounds simple, but all of us envy others in our daily lives, and often the situation is the Church itself. We know we do this or that, and yet we receive no recognition for what we have done. Don't worry; God sees us and knows all. Just put some grapes in your basket and don't worry about what others have in theirs . I cannot tell you how often my mother quoted that sermon on grapes and baskets, but there is great wisdom and peace in taking care of our lives on the path and not comparing ourselves to what others have or own, or the jobs they hold in community or Church. Helping one another is a Christian ideal; however, be satisfied with what God has called your life to. He made you who you are; accept that and see everything in your life as a gift on the road to heaven. Stop looking at other people’s baskets and comparing how many grapes they have to yours. Put some grapes in your own basket and glorify the Lord! If there is any comfort in this scripture passage for you, the last words at the end of this story should cheer you up.
"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."(Matthew20:16)
God sees all.