Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 18, 2021
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
he found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
In this gospel Jesus challenges our notions of self-piety and of fairness. The story only seems unfair from the point of view of the full-day laborers; however, those who received the same full-day benefits for only a small amount of time worked would be very grateful.
As a general stereotype, it’s safe to say that the Notre Dame family has many high achievers. We tend to be the classroom standouts, team captains, corporate leaders, parish volunteers, etc. Those of us who are people of faith likely worship regularly, pray daily, and strive to nurture our relationship with God. Our first instinct, therefore, is to identify with the laborers who put in a full day’s work.
But that would be wrong.
Each of us is the laborer giving less than the compensation we receive. The point of this parable is not about unfairness or injustice; the key message is about God’s tremendous generosity. The complete offer of God’s love and salvation is available to everyone, even those who may come to their profession of faith later in life.
Even for those of us who are engaged in our faith, sometimes we neglect to work as hard in the Lord’s vineyard as we promised. How often during our day do we turn away from God or not fully engage in prayer? Do we take quiet time to listen to God and to be thankful for all that we have received?
The consolation of the reading is that, even if our work is less than perfect due to sin, we still have the offer of an entire day’s wage, the chance and promise of eternal salvation. This is because of the unconditional love of God and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
It’s the greatest contract ever written—come to me and you will have eternal life.
Prayer
Is not the Lord free to give those who serve Him whatever He wishes? The Lord gives as He pleases. Ours is but to thank Him for His gifts to each of us. Lord, you warn us against envy of other people’s gifts. We know you are concerned for each of us. Help our faith that we might trust in your mercy. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Helen did more than perhaps any other female saint (aside from Mary) to spread the good news and establish the faith around the world.
She had humble beginnings—she was the daughter of an innkeeper in ancient Rome. In about 270, the Roman general Constantius Chlorus met her at her family’s inn and married her. When he was made caesar, he was influenced to divorce her; by that time, Helen had already given birth to a son, Constantine.
When Constantius died, Helen’s son, Constantine, was acclaimed caesar by the army. Later, he was declared emperor, and in 313 issued the famous Edict of Milan, which ceased the persecution of Christians and promoted their toleration.
At about this time, Helen converted to the faith. Though she was 63 when she joined the Church, she had great zeal—it seemed as though she were making up for lost time. She wore simple, plain clothes to attend Mass at churches in Rome and supported the poor liberally with the resources at her disposal.
When Constantine’s power spread eastward, Helen visited Palestine to see the places where Jesus lived and died. She wanted to find those places and objects that were sacred to Christians and to preserve them for later generations. She is credited with finding the “true cross” on which Jesus was executed, and she built churches in Bethlehem, on the Mt. of Olives, and over the tomb of Jesus.
She spent the remainder of her life in the Holy Land, praying and supporting the Church there. She continued to live humbly, and when she met pilgrims, she showed them the greatest reverence, even serving them at the table and washing their hands.
She used her position of power to support the poor and those who were suffering—wounded soldiers, mine workers, and the imprisoned. She built churches and adorned many more. She died in 330.
The relics of St. Helen rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, as does a fragment from the true cross that she discovered. She is depicted there in stained glass.
St. Helen, you discovered the true cross and used your power to support the Church, pray for us!
