“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15)

 

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15)

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, some hired hands labored from sunrise, some from noon day, and still others came into the fields just before quitting time. Yet in the end, each was paid the same wage as promised. This, however, caused a rift between those who labored longer and the ones who labored less. In essence, those who worked more became jealous with envy – giving those who worked less the “evil eye;” glaring at them askance with hatred. 

This parable rings true in every parish setting. There is always a feeling that those in a parish who have labored longer (i.e. been a part of the parish longer, do more, give more) deserve more, should somehow receive more; be rewarded in greater fashion than others. But we are not the owner of the vineyard and none of us deserves anything other than the wage promised to the laborer by the Master. 

God’s way is not man’s way…and thank God for that! For His love is meted out as He sees fit and not as we would. And this means that even we who think ourselves better have a better chance at redemption than we normally would.

Fr. John