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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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We live in a society that values being first. We reward the highest achievers, the hardest workers, the first into the vineyard, and the last to leave at night.
We can carry this belief into religion, thinking that the best way to get into heaven is to never lose our faith, to pray early and often, to excel in charity, to know and live the scriptures.
But according to today’s Gospel parable, such an idea gets us nowhere. In fact, the opposite seems to be true.
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Does this mean that sinners will storm heaven before the Saints? That it’s better not to run the race of faith from start to finish, rather to convert on our death bed?
How can someone who’s lived a storied life receive the same reward as the virgins, martyrs, and Saints… and even receive their reward first?
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Imagine all of humanity standing in front of the pearly gates, struggling to get into heaven before all of the spots are filled and the gates are closed.
Where do you see yourself standing – in the front, in the back, in the middle? Would you let someone else cut in front of you?
Suddenly, Jesus makes an announcement, quoting today’s Gospel, “The last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Imagine the cheering, backslapping, excitement, relief, and gratitude erupting from the back. All of those who didn’t “deserve” a spot are admitted first.
They’d have quite the story to tell of God’s infinite love and mercy, while the ones formerly up front may struggle with a bit of jealousy.
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Maybe this is the point.
Whether we are first, last, or somewhere in between, it’s not about when we get into heaven, but that we get in at all. Eternal life is pure gift.
Cutting the line – or seeing ourselves as more deserving than others – is a fruitless exercise, because God alone is the judge.
Wherever we may land, thank you, Lord, for saving us a spot.
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Image credits: (1) C.S. Lewis Institute (2) Phil Witte, The Funny Times (3) Dreamtime.com