“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” and some 2000 years later this truism remains. Today’s gospel message also has a “sting” in it for our American understanding of “Rugged Individualism and Capitalism.” For many believe that the more you work, the more you should earn—whether it be through overtime at our jobs or by way of moving up-the-corporate latter from late nights and weekends spent at the office. That might be fine for the workplace, but in the spiritual world we need to recognize that our admission into the Kingdom of Heaven is not earned—in any way, shape or form—but rather heavenly glory is a free, unmerited gift of God.

Today’s Gospel has a landowner offering a just wage to his workers. They accept his offer of a just wage and go to work. A long day, the morning sun, and hard work are the order of the
day for those who came on to work from early morning. More arrive midday and take on the afternoon heat and work hard also. Evening comes and the “late comers” put in a few hours at
best. At day’s end, the land owner pays his just wage to those who agreed to it—and even the “late comers” receive, out of his generosity, the same wage—that which has been determined to
be just for the day’s work.

Anger arises from the hard workers who spent long hours in the fields. Why is the land owner being generous? We might also ask “Why is Jesus sitting with tax collectors, gentiles and sinners? It isn’t just!” many exclaim, to treat everyone the same! I worked overtime…I put my back into it…I spent weekends and late nights…how can I be equal to you? If we remember that the Lord is just but He is also merciful—meaning generous with all—then why should we be
angry with His gracious and generous treatment of another. After all, it does not diminish what He gave to me—the just wage for which I asked. It only illustrates for us and gives hope that the love, the mercy and the magnificent generosity of He who Is, Was and Shall Ever Be is there for all, including us. Our God is a good God, Our God is a loving God who desires only the most excellent for each of us and that He is abundant with His generosity for our own personal needs.