Laborers in the Vineyard

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ Matthew 20:1-16

There is always more work to be done, especially this time of year. Caring for communities of faith during the holidays, especially when wars rage in the Middle East and Ukraine, is always challenging work. Communities had started fights over who would take the role of Mary in the pageant and come apart because of it. When, who and how we decorate are all fodder for community and family conflicts. The simple truth is we want things to be perfect, while the perfect one, our loving Creator, aches for us to move from battling one another to making peace, from the need to win to walking together, and from hoarding the abundance to sharing with all.

Precious Creator, you are our daily blessing

your heart is full of love for every tribe and family

you hands of full of good food for all nations

and your desire is for us to find room for everyone.

Yet ww divide and conquer, shut out and reject

we are unkind to the hungry and the homeless

we shutter our elders away from the children

and we are sad because of the world we have created.

Help us to labor for love and inclusion

help us to spread tables where all are welcome

make us those who seek peace instead of control

and let us be your heart visible here on earth today. Amen.