Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus liken the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who hires laborers for his vineyard, giving the same wage regardless of hours worked. I think many of us would have the same reaction of the hardworking laborers who grumble in frustration when they receive the same as those who only worked a fraction of the time. It seems a little unjust, doesn’t it? I worked more hours than this other guy…don’t I deserve more money in return? I spent more time studying…don’t I deserve a better grade? I spend hours in the gym…why is my teammate getting more playing time? I follow all your commandments, Lord…why have I still not found my future spouse? I pray every day…why is my mom still sick?
It makes sense that questions like these could stir up frustration within our hearts, especially when we consider the culture that has formed us throughout our lives. The world teaches us that we get what we earn. And on a deeper level, that we are what we do. We see it in the workplace, in the classroom, in social settings. We tend to operate in this worldview without even recognizing it. And that’s why it so easily creeps into our spiritual lives. We can treat our relationship with God as something that needs to be earned. We can start to see Him as the all-powerful One holding out on us. We begin to fall in love with the gifts and not the Giver. Like the laborers who asked, “You have made them equal to us?” we can start to resent our brothers and sisters in Christ.
This transactional worldview blurs the most beautiful Truth of our Christian faith: God freely offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross so that each of us might enjoy a personal relationship with Him in this life and for all eternity. Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner.” He compares the kingdom to a person. The landowner goes out multiple times to personally encounter each laborer. He offers them fulfilling work in His home. He calls them “friends.” The kingdom of heaven, my friends, IS relationship with God. It is communion with the Blessed Trinity. Every day God offers us His love and the opportunity to share in His life. This is the greatest gift. We do not deserve it and we most certainly cannot earn it.
Let us open our hearts to receive this gift through prayer, the sacraments, a life of virtue and our generous response to His call to serve. No matter what hour of life we find ourselves, let us receive in humility and awe the kingdom of heaven.
Molly Bent, CLM Missionary