So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'  So they went.  Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'  They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.'  He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'  So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.'  And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.  But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.  And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'  But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong.  Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go your way.  I wish to give to this last man the same as you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?  Or is your eye evil because I am good?'  So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called, but few chosen."

- Matthew 20:1-16

Yesterday we read that Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.  Therefore what shall we have?"  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  See also Monday's reading for the story of the rich young man.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'  So they went.  Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'  They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.'  He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'  So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.'  And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.  But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.  And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'  But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong.  Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what is yours and go your way.  I wish to give to this last man the same as you.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?  Or is your eye evil because I am good?'  So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called, but few chosen."  This parable is called the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.  It is a description for the disciples of the nature of work for the Kingdom in the world.  My study bible says that the vineyard in the parable is life in this world.  The day refers both to the span of a single person's life and to the whole of human history.  The laborers are all the people in every nation of the world.  Each hour, it tells us, can refer to times in a person's life, whether that is infancy, youth, adulthood, maturity, or old age.  It also has a second meaning in the span of history -- it can refer to those called during the covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and finally Christ.  The generosity of God provides an equal reward both for early and late comers.  Jesus teaches that those like the apostles, who come early, should not be proud of their long service nor resent those who are called at the eleventh hour.  To the latecomers, Jesus teaches that it is possible even in a short time or at the end of one's life to recover and inherit everything.  In the early Church, this message was understood to apply specifically to the Jews (who were the first-called) and the Gentiles (those called later).  But in our time, it can be applied to those raised in the Church and those who find the Church later in life, both of whom receive an equal reward.  There is a renowned paschal sermon by St. John Chrysostom, recited each year in the Eastern Church at the midnight service of Easter as the day breaks.  It is based on this parable, applying it to the preparations of each person in approaching the paschal Eucharist.

So what does it mean to be a worker in this vineyard?  It means several things, as indicated by my study bible's notes and its use and interpretation throughout history.  For Jesus' immediate disciples, it no doubt functioned to explain to them their own place in the grand scheme of working for the Kingdom in the world:  there would be many who followed them.  Moreover, they themselves "entered into others' labors," as stated by Jesus after their encounter with the woman at the well in Samaria.  What we learn from these teachings is that we are not alone in our faith, not by a long shot. Whatever we do, whatever we understand, we build and are building upon countless others whom we don't know, and we contribute to this process for yet others to come.  But each laborer is worthy of his or her hire.  The same is true of those in all other nations, as preparation for such labor may come in many forms.  For the Greek-speaking world of Christ's time, in which Greek was the language of commerce, of literature, of all the sciences and philosophy, the Hellenistic patrimony was indispensable in forming the theology that would shape the church.  All of it would come into service for Christ.  As Christ Himself is the Person who is Truth (John 14:6), so whatever is true or good or beautiful can be a part of the labor into which Christ's workers enter.  The Samaritan woman did not know the fullness of the revelation to the Jews, but nevertheless she was ready for faith, as were her fellow villagers.  Our Church is in truth a multi-layered and multi-faceted and ongoing work of God, working through all of us, through those whom we don't know, through uncountable workers who've come before us and contributed each in his or her own way, and many more as well to come.  This is the true image of the Kingdom in the world.  Christ's teaching to all of us is that each may contribute to the beauty of His house, but only with the humility that teaches us that we each have our part to do.  The reward is equal.  This sets us on a par in that our true job is simply to focus on our part in this work, and to bear the burdens we're given and the yoke that is for us (11:28-30).  Let us look to the Master to teach us our particular work, and rejoice in the fullness into which we enter.