UNFAIR!

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September 24, 2017
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First reading (Isaiah 55:6-9)
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18)
Second reading (Philippians 1:20C-24, 27A)
Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16A)


'Why do you stand here idle all day?' Jesus, in today’s gospel (from the account of Matthew), shares a parable with His disciples, comparing the Kingdom of God to a generous landowner. The landowner calls on those who stand idle, mga tambay, to work in His vineyard. Throughout the day, he calls whomever he sees idle to work for him. At the end of the day’s work, he calls all laborers and gives to each one the same amount of daily wage, even to those who only worked for only an hour or even less. Unfair? It seems so. But let us look closely on what Jesus meant by the generosity of the landowner.

We have all been used to hearing generosity as being able to give beyond what is necessary. When we are capable of giving what is due, that is JUSTICE. When we are capable of giving BEYOND what is due to someone, that is GENEROSITY. The landowner gave the agreed daily wage to those who worked all-day. That is justice. What is agreed upon has been given. The landowner gave the same daily wage to those who worked for a shorter period of time. That is generosity. The laborers were given more than what they worked for.

In our daily work, have we confused justice with generosity? Do we demand generosity instead of justice? When people are given more than what they deserve, do we demand that we receive the same? Have we become envious of others because we do not receive the same generosity, the same blessings, they receive? Have we forgotten that we have been given our share? Have we forgotten that before we asked for compensation, God already gave us a taste of His generosity by giving us work, by giving us, mga tambay sa mundo, a purpose and a mission? Have we been blinded by benefits and advantages, and forgotten that our basic needs are provided for by God? Let us not forget to be grateful, and be led to the path of envy.

But even in understanding the difference of justice and generosity, there are things and circumstances we react to with a cry, “UNFAIR!” We say this because we do not understand. Thus, in our first reading (from the book of the prophet Isaiah), we are all invited to seek the wisdom of God who is beyond our human thoughts. Let us ask God to enlighten us.
Even before we cry out “unfair”, in our second reading (from the letter to the Philippians), St. Paul expresses our need to choose our response to God’s call, His gift, very carefully. Even in our response, the principles of justice and generosity are at work. When we choose to dedicate our whole self to God in solitude and prayer, we give what is due to God. When we choose to dedicate our whole self to God in service of other people, we not only give ourselves to God, we become generous in giving because we not only benefit ourselves but others, too, in our service to our neighbors. It is a toss-up between a just choice and a generous choice. Which would we choose? Which of these do you think will make God cry out to us, UNFAIR?

Justice or generosity? Take your pick. God has made his pick. What is yours?

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