The Worthy Heart III - Is Grateful

St. Matthew 20:1-16 (8/13) Gospel for Wednesday of the Ninth Week after Pentecost The Worthy Heart III ~ Is Grateful: St. Matthew 20:1-16, especially vs. 15: "Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with My Own things? Or is your eye evil because I Am good?" In St. Matthew's account of the parable of the vineyard workers, the Lord Jesus begins and ends with identical declarations: "the last will be first, and the first last"(vss. 19:30 and 20:16). These pronouncements are rather like "bookends," that highlight the theme of the parable. Christ's repetition invites exploration so one can appreciate the meaning of the theme of the parable. The way to understand the larger context is to review our Lord's challenge to a man who said he wished to follow Him (Mt. 19:16). The Lord confronted his desire with a challenge: "if you want to be perfect, go, sell all that you have and give to the poor" (Mt. 19:21). Sadly, the man was unable to let go of his great possessions, and backed off (vs. 19:22). Our Lord's disciples were perplexed by the stringency of the demand made on the man and asked, "Who then can be saved?" (vs. 25). Peter was quick to apply the message to himself and declared, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" (vs. 27). Our Lord assured His disciples that they would have a place as rulers, "...judging the twelve tribes of Israel," and that if anyone should give up the goods of this world to follow Him, he would be rewarded a hundred fold "...and inherit eternal life" (vss. 28,29). Then comes the first "bookend": "But many who are first will be last, and the last first" (vs. 30). It is evident that the Lord Jesus wished to reassure His disciples in their commitment to Him. But He desires that all his "followers" should not be "reward-oriented," but rather grateful to Him; for, of course, God rewards those who are committed to Him. However, He rejoices in those who gratefully embrace Him as did Abram (Gen. 15:1). The singular emphasis of the parable that follows is that "all laborers receive equal pay." Common human thinking expects compensation to differ in proportion to labor expended, but our Lord is explicit on the point that the Kingdom of God operates by its own rules - even as they shatter the tidy categories of reward-oriented thinking. Gradations such as "first" and "last" are rendered meaningless in the "avalanche" of God's unmerited grace toward men. Listen to St. John Chrysostom in his famous Paschal homily and apply it to this parable: If any have toiled from the first hour, let him receive his due reward. If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast. And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any have delayed to the ninth hour, let him not hesitate, but let him come too. And he that hath arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay; for the Lord is gracious and receiveth the last even as the first....Let all then enter into the joy of our Lord. Yet first and last receiving alike your reward.... St John Chrysostom understands that gratitude must replace compensation! In the mercy and saving love of our Lord, repentance and gratitude gain Life. "O give thanks unto the Lord and call upon His Name; declare among the nations His works" (Ps. 104:1). Commenting further on this parable, St. John Chrysostom queries: "But the question is this, whether the first have gloriously approved themselves, and having pleased God, and having throughout the whole day shone by their labors, are possessed by the basest feeling of vice, jealousy, and envy." May God's grace sustain our gratitude and keep us far from envy and dissatisfaction - from questioning what God gives us in relation to what He bestows upon others. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; His mercy endureth for ever! (Ps. 105:1)