The Generosity of God

Dear Friend,

This Sunday's readings from Isaiah and Matthew’s Gospel speak to me of the generosity of God, which is beyond our understanding. Through this gospel, I learned Jesus' teaching about the mercy of God through a parable in which all people are treated very generously. When I read it for the first time, the parable of the workers in the vineyard appeared to be an offense to my common sense. Those who work a more extended day ought to be paid more than those who work just an hour or two. When viewed in this way, the landowner seems unfair. Is that because I am reading my preconceived notions of how fairness and equality should be quantified into the parable?

The workers in this parable sound like squabbling children, comparing what they have each been given and making complaints to the parent. Among children, there is a tendency to equate love with gifts and material things. This tendency can devolve into a spirit of entitlement, which contradicts the spirit of gratitude.

After reading closely on the gospel, the landowner paid on the negotiated terms. The landowner has acted entirely justly. Then, I can see that the landowner is not simply just; he is radically just. No one is cheated, but a few receive abundantly from the landowner just as others receive from God more than what is justifiable or due. God, like the landowner, is radically just and abundantly generous. The workers who complain are made to look foolish, like entitled children who do not embody the spirit of gratitude.

This parable reminds us that God owes us abundantly and equally. We are occasionally tempted to think that our actions deserve more reward, more of God's abundant mercy, than the actions of others. But God's generosity cannot be quantified or partitioned into different amounts for different people. When we think that way, we are trying to relate to God on our terms rather than to accept God's radically different ways.

All people are considered equal in God’s eyes. Additionally, He is radically just and exceptionally generous. Can we be grateful for God’s mercy and generosity and share it with others?

Blessings,

Fr. Henri ofm, Associate Pastor