The Lord's is the Earth and its fullness: the parable of the vineyard owner

#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight#GospelReflection

August 21, 2019

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mt 20: 1 - 16

Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid

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THE GOSPEL

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵ When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶ And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. ¹⁰ Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.¹¹ And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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REFLECTION

Today’s reading speaks to us about an owner of a vineyard who goes out several times during the day looking for laborers to work in his vineyard. As he goes out, he finds people who are willing to work in his vineyard for an agreed amount of money.

There are a number of points that are clear in this parable:

First, God is clearly the owner of the vineyard. In the Old Testament, God has often been described as a vine grower and Israel, his precious vine. God planted this vine and made it grow in a vineyard so it may bear fruit. He protected this vineyard and surrounded it with a fence and even built a tower to make it even more secure.

Second, while God was the owner of the vineyard, he did not do the work in his vineyard alone. He needed laborers who will help him take care of the vineyard. The work in the vineyard seemed vast because the owner of the vineyard had to employ several laborers which is why he had to go out several times during the day to get more of them.  

Third, the laborers can be compared to those of us who are called to work with God in his vineyard. God shares with us his work in his vineyard. The vineyard doesn’t belong to us. We are simply laborers who are told what the owner of the vineyard wants us to do.

Lastly, as co-laborers in God’s vineyard, we are not treated as slaves. Slaves do not receive any pay from their masters since they are owned by their masters.  As laborers who have been invited and have willingly agreed to work with the Lord, we are treated and compensated justly for the work we have done. The Lord is just. Every worker in God’s vineyard can expect a just reward; every work done is compensated in due time.

In this parable, God portrays himself as a vineyard owner. It is important for us to know that every vineyard owner is always a passionate owner. A vineyard owner who is not passionate will never succeed in growing vines, as vines need very detailed and meticulous care to fully grow and mature. In a similar manner, God passionately loves the world which is his vineyard. He is the Lord of the all the earth and knows what’s best with our world.

The parable also tells us how God shares with us his work in the world. We become co-workers in the world with him to share his passion, care and concern for the world.  When God invites us to work with him in whatever way we can, he asks us to take care of the world and its people, just as he would take care of it. We should also always remember that no work in God’s vineyard remains unnoticed. Every little thing we do for God’s vineyard will always be known and compensated by God who is just. No one who volunteers or gives up his life to work in the Lord’s vineyard is left unrewarded.

Concretely, then, how would this parable affect us?

Firstly, many times, we get worried about so many things that are happening in the world around us that isn’t right. At times, we lose heart at all the negative news and events that are happening right at our doorsteps. When these things happen, we must always keep faith in the owner of the vineyard, the Lord, who knows exactly what to do when something goes wrong in his vineyard. The Lord will never allow his beloved vineyard to go to waste. His is the earth and all that there is in it.

Secondly, as overzealous workers in the church, we sometimes get frustrated over the work that we do because things do not work out well. This parable asks us to take a good look at our work in the church and to see ourselves as mere laborers in the Lord’s vineyard. This might give us a better perspective of our work and make us realize that it is really the Lord who does the work in his vineyard, and we are just his co-workers. In the end, all things will turn out well because of him who passionately loves and owns the vineyard. We just need to keep faith in him.

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PRAYER

Lord of the vineyard, I am grateful for being called by you to work in your vineyard, as a parent, a worker or a friend. In the vast field of your vineyard, give me the passion that you have so that I too may love and care for it much in the way you passionately love and care for it. Keep my faith in you, Lord of the vineyard, knowing that you will not allow any harm to come to your own vineyard. I am a mere laborer in your vineyard who one day hopes to receive his reward when one day, you will come in glory. Amen.

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ASSIGNMENT

Slowly Pray and recite this short verse from Psalm 24: 1- 3:

 “ The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds,
    the world and those who dwell in it.
   For he founded it on the seas,
    established it over the rivers.”

Repeat the first two lines of this psalm.

Believe in your heart that the earth belongs to the Lord;

He will not let no harm come to it ; he will put everything right in his own time.