The last will be first, and the first will be last

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers 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 labourers 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

Today's parable continues Jesus' statement from yesterday's reading, that "many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." Jesus was speaking about the sacrifices that people make to "follow Him" and to work for the kingdom. This topic followed the incident wherein the wealthy young man asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus gave the example of a camel going through the eye of a needle in order to illustrate the difficulties wealth can present as obstacle to entering the kingdom.

In this story of laborers in the vineyard, we have an illustration about the nature of this work for the kingdom. The earliest laborers come first thing in the morning, and work for the wage they've negotiated with the landowner. The landowner goes out in search of more workers, at three-hour intervals: nine o'clock, twelve o'clock and three o'clock. Finally at about five o'clock, the last hour before what would have been considered the end of the day, the landowner goes out in search of the last laborers. Even though all of these laborers did not work the same amount of hours, they were all paid the same rate: the daily wage. The earliest laborers grumble: "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 the landlord replies thusly: "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," Jesus says, "the last will be first, and the first will be last."

One interesting thing to note about this story is that the times the landlord searches for workers correspond to the traditional hours marked for prayer during the day. There's a famous sermon by St. John Chrysostom, which is read every Easter in the Eastern churches, based on this parable. It is well worth reading to understand the spirit of the parable, and how we can apply it to our lives today.

My study bible says, in its notes on this passage, that the vineyard is the life God gives us in the world, the day is the time of laboring (the here and now), and the laborers are those whom He calls to fill His commandments. It notes that the different hours at which laborers were called reflect the different ages in a person's life that he or she may be called to faith: there are those who come to this labor from their earliest youth, and those who come late in life to heed this call. But each receives the same reward. To quote from a note in my study bible: "God's generosity provides equal access to and enjoyment of rewards in the life of the Kingdom for both early and late comers. Jesus teaches the former they should neither be proud of their long service, nor question those called at the eleventh hour -- lest they themselves lose all. To the latter, He teaches it is possible even in a short time to recover everything." It adds, "In Jesus' ministry this parable applies to the Pharisees and sinners, while in the early Church, it applies to Jews and Gentiles." We recall that Matthew's gospel is written with a Jewish audience in mind. In the sermon from St. John Chrysostom, the reward is the banquet of the Easter Eucharist.

I think it's important to dwell on this parable and to come to understand it for ourselves. There is this important notion of time and reward involved. Those who labor for the kingdom may not realize great rewards as a sort of formula: if you do this, then you will receive this. We don't say prayers by rote in order to gain some "edge" that allows us to receive "more." This isn't the nature of grace. To quote Shakespeare's insightful understanding, "The quality of mercy is not strained." In a previous parable, Jesus compared mercy and forgiveness to a king who gives his slave more time to pay a debt. So the landowner goes out and appeals to different people at different times, seeing them as yet still unemployed. God's appeal to us, Christ's appeal to all, will always be present to us at every stage of our lives. Whether it is early or late when we are called, we don't give up on this labor because others are there before us. The reward is the same, always open to all, even until the last hour.

When do you heed this call? Do you put it off until tomorrow? This story doesn't include those who reject the call or put it off - only those who hear it later. Those who are called early have no "bragging rights" over those who come later. There are many places in the world today, where people hear this call for the first time. One who comes to this labor always comes to it as an equal, in the love of God. When do you respond to the call? You are always welcome.