You can listen to this reflection here.
This week we come to one of my favorite parables, about workers in a vineyard. No blood or violence here, just grace beyond measure. And boy, does that make some people mad!
You can read the whole story for yourself; here’s the “nutshell” version: A landowner hires day laborers for his vineyard, agreeing to a standard wage. They’re happy, he’s happy. As the day progresses, he goes back out to the marketplace at intervals and hires more workers, even at 5 in the afternoon, when the workday is nearly done. At quitting time, he instructs his manager to pay everyone a full day’s wage – what could be more fair than that? But the ones who worked the whole day feel they should get more than those who worked less time.
"And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 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.’ 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? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’"
Now, we could argue that their workload grew less as more workers were added to the staff… but even so, they have a point, don’t they? We almost always have a legitimate grievance when we compare ourselves to other people. But when we stand alone before God’s grace we are apt to find ourselves grateful for the abundance of mercy we receive.
Like many of Jesus’ parables, this one is aimed at those who believe they are “in” in God’s realm by virtue of their hard work and righteousness. If we all get the same reward no matter how hard we work, what’s the point of working hard?
Precisely! The Kingdom of Heaven is not for strivers – it is for what we become when we’ve finally reached the end of our striving and give up. Give in. The currency of the Kingdom of Heaven is grace, unmerited love and forgiveness in abundance. Grace goes beyond contract. By its very nature, it is “unfair.” We cannot earn it. It is totally up to God to give, to whomever God wants, no matter how much or how little we try to please God.
How does that sit with you? On our best days we say, “Whew!” because we know we get a pass. On our worse days, we say, “Hey! How come that one got a break?”
What kind of day are you having? A “thank God for grace” day or a “I want them to get what’s comin’ to them” day? If you’re in the former position, amen! You are in in the Life of God. Spend some time in prayer giving thanks for all the ways you see and pass on God's grace.
If the idea of mercy for another – even a heinous monster – is troubling you, sit with that. We feel what we feel. Let those feelings push you to pray for those undeserving people. Pray that they would somehow feel the fullness of God’s true blessing. That’s the only force I know of that can transform the blackest heart. It's happened before...
Six years ago this week, I-Tunes users received a free gift of a new U2 album, whether or not they wanted it. It made some people mad, to receive something they had not earned or asked for. Yet U2 understands the dynamics of “Grace:
What once was hurt/ What once was friction / What left a mark / No longer stings /
Because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things.
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