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Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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In 2022, the Houston Astros won the World Series. If you asked any Astros fan who their favorite player was, they might’ve responded: José Altuve, Kyle Tucker, or Yordan Alvarez – three of the best players on the team.
Few, if any, fans would’ve said Hunter Brown.
Hunter Brown only pitched in the Major Leagues for 18 innings; the rest of his season was spent in the developmental Minor Leagues.
Yet Brown won a World Series ring like everyone else on the team, because he played the minimum requirement of at least three games that season. Others played over 160!
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a parable about people hired to work in a vineyard.
Some of them work all day – all season – long.
Meanwhile, others like Hunter Brown, are called up last minute.
At the end of the day, everyone receives an equal wage.
It may seem unfair in our eyes, but that’s the generosity of God.
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So, what does this mean for us?
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Instead of focusing on the “Hunter Browns” of the world – those who come to faith last minute and still receive a coveted place in God’s kingdom – perhaps our focus today can be gratitude.
No matter how long we’ve served the Lord or how much faith we have, none of us is deserving of heaven. Yet, when the sun sets, that’s exactly where we’ll be.
Everything is a gift from God. To Him be the glory.
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Image credits: (1) SN, Sporting News (2) Houston Chronicle (3) The Kingdom of God – Grace Center