https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092026.cfm
Do You Get It?
“But Mom, that’s not fair!” My mom comes into the kitchen and tells me to clean it and wash the dishes. I protest, “I didn’t make that mess.” She comes back and says, “You heard me. Do it because you love me,” and walks away. Mom really knew how to get through to me. It was her way of saying, “Mother knows best.” And she did.
How about the football player who hits an opposing player when the referee doesn’t see it? We know who gets the penalty – the fellow who hits back. Life is not fair. It wasn’t fair for the gospel workers who were hired at sunrise and received the same pay as those hired near sunset. Life isn’t fair.
We believe keeping all the Commandments gives us the right to heaven; we deserve our pay. But God has a better way that has nothing to do with our performance. Our performance is important, but isn’t first. We put the cart before the horse. Isaiah understood this, and we must agree: “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9, First Reading).
A step comes before our performance or keeping the Commandments. It’s all about relationships. In this parable, Jesus challenges us to move from being laborers in his field to becoming his friends, even his family. We are so grateful for all that he has given us that we can’t keep everything to ourselves. A laborer works for their own pay to take care of their needs. Their pay is a single fold.
A family member works out of love and does whatever is needed to help another in their need, even when it involves sacrifice. When you love someone, like a family member, nothing is a sacrifice. Family members’ pay is a hundredfold which spill over into the lives of so many people.
Gospel Challenge:
It all starts with a simple act of kindness. It is fair in God’s eyes when our prayers and good works benefit many people. The Lord’s pay is measured by our generous hearts.
Love Your Neighbor.
Fr. Rick Pilger, I. C.
