Symphony for denarius
Twenty-fifth Sunday - Year A
Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20:1-16
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:9). These words of Isaiah are the best commentary on the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16). The behavior of the master of a house surprises us. He hires everyone he could find to work in his vineyard and then he pays the same wages to all. What truth does Jesus want to tell us about God's Kingdom?
The parable ends with two questions: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Is your eye evil because I am good?" (Matt. 20:15). Today, the answer to both questions is not so simple. Since the XIX century, private property has been seen as the root of all evil in society, and the international labor organization would question as good paying the same amount of money to those working twelve hours and those working only one hour (Matt. 20:11-12). It is immediately evident that God's Kingdom uses other values than the kingdoms of this world (John 18:36).
"Who taught [God] the path of justice?" (Is. 40:14). Apparently, we would like to teach Him "the path of justice" and "the way of understanding. "You have made them equal to us" (Matt. 20:12), who were working the whole day under the scorching heat of the sun while they worked only one hour. Do we not deserve more? And yet, the answer of the owner to one of those grumbling against him is: "Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?" (Matt. 20:13).
The Pharisees regarded Jesus' eating with sinners as inappropriate (Luke 15:2), the older son told his father that he should not treat his younger son with such kindness (Luke 15:28-30), and those hired first thought it unacceptable to be made equal with those whom nobody wanted to hire (Matt. 20:7). These examples show how our ways and thoughts are different from God's ways and thoughts. Instead of trying to teach God the path of justice, we should forsake our wicked ways, unrighteous thoughts, and repent (Is. 55:7).
Jesus ends the parable with a comment: "the last will be first, and the first last" (Matt. 20:16). This comment, first of all, refers to him. "I am the first and the last" (Rev. 1:17). Although equal to God, Christ humbled himself and became like us (Phil. 2:6-8). For our sake, he made himself the last and God made him the first by bestowing upon him "the name that is above every name" (Phil. 2:9). This mind of Christ we should have towards each other (Phil. 2:5).
From the Greek word translated as "agreement" comes our word "symphony" (Matt. 20:2). A symphony needs an orchestra and a conductor. Moreover, some musicians play more often, while others play less, but they are all necessary to play the entire symphony. Called at different stages of our lives, we are the orchestra with Jesus as the conductor. He wants us to create under his direction one great symphony.
The lesson that Jesus wants to teach us today is explained by Saint Paul. We can glorify Christ through life and death. Our fruitful work for the community of the Church is in itself God's grace and fills our hearts with happiness. But this life sooner or later ends, and then we will receive our wages, namely "to be with Christ" (Phil. 2:20-24). Could there be any greater reward than hearing those words: "today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43)?
"Each of them received a denarius" (Matt. 20:9-10). The Father gave us His Only Beloved Son "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3).