I love that today we begin our Gospel in Matthew where we left off yesterday. Yesterday we finished up chapter 19 with "But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Today we jump into Jesus explaining the Kingdom with a story of a landowner and the workers.
In the story, the landowner goes out to the place where men were standing around hoping to get picked up to do some work. First thing in the morning, he picks up some men, agree on a wage and they get to work.
Later in the day he went back and saw others still standing around waiting for work and brought them back to work his vineyard. He ends up going out two more times during the day finding and bringing back workers.
When the day ended and it as time to pay the workers, he had them line up by the time they arrived to work. The first people in line for pay were those who arrived last and the last in line were those who arrived first. As those in the back saw how much the first few line were getting paid, they got excited because surely they were going to get more since they worked all day, right?
Wrong! Those who had been working all day got paid the amount that was agreed upon when the day began, which happened to be the same amount that those who had only been working a short time got paid.
Surely this isn't fair! Surely they should get more since they had been working longer and harder hours, right? Don't kid yourself, you would feel the same way, wouldn't you? You feel yourself grumbling right along with those workers, don't you?
The land owner is not cheating anyone out of anything. He reminded the workers that they agreed on a days wage at the start of the day and that is what they were paid. Him choosing to be generous to the others had nothing to do with the agreement they made. He reminded them that it was his money to use how he chose and pointed out that they were being envious.
Then, Jesus closes us with that same line again "Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Jesus is showing us that whether you are someone who has been following him your entire life, or someone who comes to know him later, both can inherit the kingdom. We sometimes feel like it is unfair that we have to "play by the rules longer" because we know better earlier on, but we still get rewarded in the way we are promised! We still get to inherit the kingdom!
It is not up to us to judge! It is not up to us to deem anything God decides to do as fair or unfair, just or unjust! He is a fair and just God! He does not go back on His promises.
Every time I read this story I feel myself getting frustrated with that first group of workers right up until the end when the landowner puts them in their place! He reminded them they were paid what was agreed on, no less!
"Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? ~ Matthew 20:15 (NABRE)
If I am truthful, there have been times that I have found myself a little jealous of those who were able to sin in ways that maybe I wanted to, but couldn't because I knew better! I would find myself frustrated because I had to live a "better" life sooner and longer than others that were also going to get the same prize in the end! Just typing these words makes me cringe! I just didn't fully get it! I just didn't fully grasp what my New life in Christ was all about. Yes, there were new struggles and challenges, but man oh man are the rewards so much greater! Knowing Him sooner and following Him sooner just means that I have the opportunity to do more with this earthly life! I should not be envious of the person who doesn't have Jesus in their heart! That is utter ridiculousness!
Today, check yourself! Check your heart! Have you been grumbling with God about things that you think are't fair? Seriously? Are you telling God that something in your life "isn't fair?" If you are, you are simply human! However, if you are, really look into your heart and remember that God is a fair and just God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Get to the root of your grumblings and then move forward!
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