UNFAIR!
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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