Are you envious because I am generous?
From the Gospel according to Matthew
Mt 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.
The Gospel of the Lord
Last Train
This Gospel, far from provoking envy in us, brings us wonderful hope whenever we think about those lost children, those family members and friends who don’t want anything to do with God, all those spouses who have left their partners and are now living with someone else, missing out on the greatness, beauty, and sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage.
We pray for all of them, so that, in that final moment of divine mercy, they may respond to the Lord’s call and receive the same reward as those who have been faithful their whole lives. God is good and free to do what He wills with His own. It’s true that we’ve chosen the narrow path, but it’s also true that we’ve tasted the Lord’s grace, and that is priceless.
Applied to married life
Helen: I’m worried about all those marriages that don’t embrace the grace of their sacrament and suffer pointlessly because of it… I wish their sufferings were fruitful suffering for the praise of the Lord, but suffering because they’re not accepting God’s love is just terrible.
Frank: Absolutely. I’m not just going to stay still, even if it means getting coffees and heading over to the house of strangers like we’ve done before.
Helen: I know, but still, so many say no and end up splitting up…
Frank: There was a time when Proyecto Amor Conyugal suggested offering online catechesis for spouses who have left or been left by their partners but want to dig deeper into the truth of Marriage. Maybe one of the couples in the Project will be inspired to get it going. After all, those couples still have a marital bond, and Virgin Mary doesn’t give up on anyone.
Helen: We’ll pray for that, so that a couple will be inspired to take those catechesis.
Frank: A rosary?
Helen: Let’s do it!
Mother,
You don’t want anyone to be lost, even if they catch the last coach of the last train of hope. Neither do we, and we place ourselves at Your service to do whatever needs to be done. God’s Glory is that everyone lives. Praise Him forever.