Gospel of Matthew, chapter 19:30

“Looking out for number one” was a monster best seller when it was published in America by Robert Ringer several years ago. The author argued against generosity and claimed it was against the laws of nature to help one another. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus rejects such selfish advice as being against the law of God.

St Peter was also thinking selfishly when he asked Jesus what was in it for him because He gave up everything to follow Him (Matthew 19:28). Jesus answered that He would “receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life’ (Matthew 19:29), but He cautioned: “Many who are now first will be last, and many who now are last will be first.”(Matthew 9:30).

Then, to illustrate what He meant, Jesus told Peter and His disciples the parable of ‘The workers in the Vineyard’ (Matthew 20:1-16). The master of the vineyard represents God; and the workers represent us. The Master agreed to pay all His workers the regular wage, a silver coin, for their work. The Jewish work day ran from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m; and the hours when the laborers were engaged to work (like migrant workers today) were 6:00 a.m.; 9:00 a.m.; 12:00 noon; 3:00 p.m; and 5:00 p.m. The amazing thing about this parable is that no matter how long a man had worked he got the same pay. So, when the workers who were hired first got their agreed pay, they started grumbling against the Master of the vineyard who simply replied: “Don’t I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous.” (Matthew 20:15)

This parable is a rebuke against those who regard themselves, and themselves alone, as special. The Jews saw themselves as the first people, chosen by God and naturally resented that their privileges were now available to the Gentiles. Even members of the early Christian church (Acts 15:1-21) had problems dealing with this. They were judging by man’s standards, not by God’s. When they heard the testimony of Paul and Barrabas, however, about the miracles that God wrought among the Gentiles they fell “silent.” (Acts 15:12).

Today’s scripture, and parable, teaches us that God is a generous Father to everyone. A Father does not love the elder son more than the youngest, even if he is twenty years older. In the same way, all members of God’s family are equally dear to Him. Those who come to God at the beginning of their lives are not loved more than those who come at the end.

Whatever you do, you should do it, generously, in a spirit of humility; not giving into pride, jealousy or resentment of others. Everything you have comes from God; So why Act as if you are more important than someone else. You have what you have because God gave it to you; and He can take it away from you any time. Take as an example, the lesson in today’s parable of our generous God who discriminates against no one.

There is a native American Indian story about a conversation that took place between a father and his son.
“You are born with two wolves inside you, my son,” says the father. “One wolf is aggressive and likes to harm you. The other one is generous and likes to spread love.”
“Which one will win out in me?” asks the son
“The one you feed,” replies the father.

In today’s scripture, the Lord wants us to feed on His example of generosity and humility.

Fr. Hugh Duffy