Matthew, a tax collector, called to be an apostle by Jesus, knew two things well: money and the mercy of God, and two parables
in Matthew's gospel combine the two. Last week
we heard the parable about a servant who was freed from an impossible debt by a
merciful king, but then refused to do the same for someone who owed him
money.
This Sunday we hear a parable about a generous vineyard
owner who is criticized when he gives a full day’s pay to those who worked only a
short time. We know that Matthew was saved from being
swallowed up by a love of money by the mercy of Jesus. It’s not surprising then that he is the only
evangelist who includes this parable in his gospel.
In the first reading today, Isaiah tells us that God’s ways are
not our ways and that even the wicked will find mercy after turning to God who
is generous in forgiving. But as we
learn in the gospel, if God is too generous, we can get annoyed and want more
because it’s not fair that others easily obtain what we have worked so hard
for.
I had the occasion years ago to give all of the students in
my English class an A on their report card.
I did it for two reasons: one, simply because I could, and two, because
I wanted to see what the reaction would be.
Many in the class were excellent students and were expecting
an A, but that was not the case for all of them. Some of them didn’t do much work, and
others simply weren’t as bright. But
they all got an A, every single one of them.
Long story short, it was today’s gospel come to life. Many of the students were thrilled, but some, who
would have gotten an A anyway, said it was not fair and wasn’t right. I knew then that Jesus’ parables are powerful
because the Lord really did know the human heart and what we learn in the
parables is as true today as when Jesus first told them.
Think of how often we appeal to justice when we think people
are getting off easy. “That’s just not
right.” We can be envious because we
have worked hard to be good and have earned and deserve what is due to us. Yet, God’s word tells us “mercy triumphs over
judgment.” (James 2:13) God’s ways, indeed, are not our ways. God can do anything God wants and does not
owe any of us anything. Everything we
have is gift. But God is good and will
do anything to help us be holy. Our part
is be open to what God offers and then accept it. One thing God won’t and can’t do is violate
our free will.
Keep in mind the two criminals crucified alongside
Jesus. One of them knew he deserved to
be there and recognized that Jesus had done no wrong. And he humbly and simply asked Jesus to
remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom. That was all it took. Jesus promised then and there that they would
be in paradise together that day.
Amazing. It is never too
late. We are never so bad. The mercy of God waits for every single one
of us every moment of our lives. Mercy
triumphs over judgment.
St Paul experienced the mercy of God in his life. He knew that he was the least of the
apostles. He knew that he was a sinner. But more importantly, he came to realize that
nothing could separate him from the love of God. In today’s second reading as he writes to the
Christians in Philippi, he is so free, as only a person who has been changed by God’s mercy
can be, that he says he doesn’t know whether he wants to live or die. He has no fear of dying or judgment, for love
casts out fear. But he also knows that
there is more he could do to help others, so perhaps there was still work for him to do. He leaves it up to God. Such holy indifference flows from his humility. We need to desire and seek the
same gift.
God’s ways are not our ways.
God is unbelievably merciful and overwhelmingly generous to us and to
everyone. When we experience God’s
goodness, we ought to rejoice when we see God’s goodness to others. We should be grateful and happy for them, not envious.
St. Matthew and St. Paul and, indeed, all the saints trusted
in Jesus’ merciful love. They knew that
God’s goodness was greater than their faults and failings. They wanted only to do God’s will each
day, regardless of how few or how many days they would be given.
We ought to desire to do the same, and we will be able to do
so, provided we trust God’s love and grace, which is ours for the asking.
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