When we reflect on our vocation to Christian discipleship, married life, religious life or priesthood, and on our gifts, talents and blessings, we realise that none of these are things we have earned by ourselves. Did we deserve to be called to our state of life? Do we deserve all our gifts and opportunities? They are God's free bounty. Therefore, when we work for God's Kingdom, we should sometimes serve simply out of generosity, without always expecting money, applause, appreciation, promotion or gifts. When such rewards do not come, we may complain or withdraw from service. Yet God continually calls those who are “standing idle all day” (20:6)—those who do not use their time, energy and resources for society or his Kingdom, those who see suffering and needs in front of their eyes but do nothing, and those who fail to use the opportunities given to them.
The late-comers also remind us that it is never too late to respond to God's call. Some come to God early in life, while others return to faith after many years of wandering from him, even at the end of life, yet God does not reject them. This does not mean that we should deliberately postpone our conversion because, as Jesus says elsewhere, we must be ready at any time, for “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Mt 24:44). Every day is an opportunity to love, serves, forgive and do what is right. The early workers were not complaining because they received less: they received the wage they had agreed upon (20:2). They complained because the late-comers received the same amount. The kingdom of God cannot be measured only by our human calculations. We too can become unhappy not because we have received less, but because someone else has received more. In our families and villages we may ask, “Why did their son get a good job? Why did their daughter get such a good marriage? Why did that family receive help and we did not?” Instead of asking, “Why them and not me?”, we should thank God for their blessings and trust him for ours.
Just as God is generous with us, he is generous with others. We should therefore rejoice when others receive gifts, talents, possessions or blessings. Only when we rejoice in God's mercy towards others can envy and greed go away. Envious people may think, “Not only what others possess should be ours, but others should not possess it at all.” Therefore, they may try to take away what others have or, if that is impossible, spoil or destroy it—not only their things but also their name, especially by spreading rumours and gossiping about them. Envy makes us destroy what is good in others simply because it pricks in our eyes, just as the employer says in this parable: “Are you envious because I am generous” (20:15)? When envy grows, people continually compare themselves with others—a big bungalow, a new vehicle or mobile phone of the latest design, better clothes, influential friends, higher posts or better payment. Jesus tells us to stop such comparison and be grateful for what we have. Comparisons such as, “Less qualified and undeserving people are given high posts in our diocese or congregation (Province), while I, though better qualified and deserving, am overlooked,” can destroy peace of mind.
This parable is not meant for literal imitation in labour relations, business or administration. Its teaching is
that God's generosity and mercy go beyond what we deserve and beyond strict justice. The employer did no injustice to the early labourers because he gave them what was agreed; towards the late-comers, however, he went beyond strict justice because of his mercy towards the weaker and unemployed. Likewise, God gives mercy even to life-long sinners who repent at the last moment. If God treats first-comers and last-comers generously, why should we expect special privileges because we contribute more money to the Church, are old Christians, high-caste or high-class Christians, seriously practising Christians rather than ‘nominal’ ones, or original rather than migrant or ‘outsider’ Christians? God's love is not a limited quantity: when another person receives God's blessing, our blessing is not reduced.
In our neighbourhood or village, when one family has a good harvest, gets a better job, builds a better house or prospers in life, we should not think that their blessing has taken something away from us. We can simply say, “Thank God for blessing them.” Similarly, when another person's child succeeds, we should not look for faults in that child or spread negative stories out of jealousy. We should learn to thank God for the good he does in others. Sometimes we also forget how much God has already given us when we focus only on what others have. We may have a loving family, good children, health, work, friends, faith and many other blessings, yet we may remain unhappy because somebody else has something more. Gratitude helps us to see God's goodness in our own life, while comparison makes us blind to it.
Let us therefore recognise that our vocation, gifts and blessings are God's free gifts; serve without always demanding reward; welcome those who come late to God; stop comparing ourselves with others; overcome envy and learn to rejoice when others are blessed.
A prayer
O merciful and generous God, grant that we may imitate your generosity by serving the undeserving. Give us the grace to overcome envy of the fortunes of others, to be grateful for what we have and to rejoice in the goodness and fortunes of others. Amen.
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Sr. Saluja OSMCERTIFIED LIFE STRATEGIST & EXECUTIVE MENTOR
Dedicated to guiding ambitious individuals, entrepreneurs, and seekers toward clarity, resilience, and actionable life mastery. Over 10+ years of mentoring.
