SAVED BY GRACE

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 20:1-16

God is always full of surprises. Prophet Isaiah is made aware of that when God tells him: “my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways” (Is 55:8). This Sunday’s gospel is a clear illustration of that. The parable of the workers who are sent to the vineyard is puzzling. As we read, we become aware that the field was huge, thus needing plenty of labourers to do all the work. The owner of the vineyard tried to provide work to all those that he could find. We may be surprised by the different times at which people were found and invited to go to the vineyard. It is as if many people were not interested in work. Could they expect to find work at the end of the day? It all makes sense if we realise that the vineyard represents the Kingdom of God (or the Kingdom of heaven, as Matthew has it). In this kingdom, there is a place for all those who show interest and are ready to work in it. The landowner - God himself - does not rest until he invites everybody that he can find. He does not force anybody, but he invites all of us at the proper time of our lives and circumstances.

At the end of the day, the workers are in for a big surprise. The landowner ordered the wages to be paid. The last ones were the first ones to be called and they received the full amount for a day’s work. When their turn arrived, the ones who worked the whole day were furious, because they received the same amount as all the others. They deserved more, so they thought. It was very unfair that they should be treated like the last ones. I think that all of us would react in the same manner. However, if we look at it from God’s angle, it makes sense. We are called at different times. Some at the beginning of their lives, others at the last moment. To the criminal crucified with Jesus, after recognising his sin and entrusting himself to the Lord, Jesus assured him of salvation: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23:43). To be welcomed into Paradise, that is the reward given by Jesus to all who accepted to serve him. That reward comes from God’s generosity. It is not received on merit but on grace. It does not matter how much we excel in our work or fulfilment of the Law. We are saved by God’s mercy.