+ The gospel passage and parable today are just about self-explanatory. They tell us that the landowner (who represents God) can do whatever he pleases with his land and with those he hires to work the land (the many prophets and interpreters of the law that he sent on his behalf). When the landowner decided to give everyone who worked during an entire day, no matter how long they worked, the same daily wage – worldly standards cried "foul!" Perhaps, your initial estimation was the same. But, it is true; the landowner is free to do as he wishes with his money! Our envy of his generosity ought not to deter him from being so generous: and it did not! Otherwise, you and I would be standing at the end of a long line waiting for the fullness of the merits of Jesus' life, death and resurrection – which is what this parable is all about. The reality behind this parable is that from the very first days of the New People of God, (the newly formed Christian Community) God would send the richness and immediate effects of his graces, and compassion and mercy and forgiveness not only to the workers but also to those who responded to the work they did for them. This meant that we, the latecomers on the scene of salvation history, would be first to be thus blest, before he went back to the beginning and saw that everyone else in this salvation history got their just deserts. When the last are first, these first ought to be humbled and eternally grateful for so great a blessing! The ones who have waited so very long for their reward have gotten it by now – and so we are all blessed by God. He is always just in his own way and time to those who trust in him!
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