The Generosity of God

“The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard” speaks of the reward or payment for one’s labor. The landowner is God. The vineyard is the kingdom.

As we listen to today’s gospel we are tempted to react and share the grumble of the workers who have worked since early morning. In human terms it seems a bit unfair that after slaving all day in the hot sun they got the same pay for their efforts as those were taken on the eleventh hour. If we get too uptight about the injustice of the situation, we miss the point of the story. The parable is not dealing with equal rights for all, or an honest day’s work for honest day’s pay. Its main force is to show the generosity of God in throwing open the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven to all sinners – you and I on equal.

This gospel fills us with an inspiring image of God’s generosity, His gracious and forgiving who love for us no bounds and whose mercy extends to those who have worked all their lives in the service of God. We cannot explain His generosity, but one is certain – God’s way are not our ways.

It is not for us to judge anyone. That’s the Lord privilege. Our task is to continue labouring in His vineyard.