Chosen Later
Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 20: 1-16 Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, the landowner found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Because no one has hired us.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There is a lot to this Gospel. We won’t try to cover the whole meaning here, but just a part. There is something briefly mentioned in this passage that we might pass up in a quick reading of the Gospel. At first, it seems that the early workers get the short end of the stick, and that the lazy late-comers luck out. But a closer reading shows that this is not the case. The late-comers aren’t lazy. They aren’t trying to avoid work or take advantage of the landowner. Instead, the Gospel tells us that though they are ready and willing, they aren’t chosen until later.
We aren’t told why these late-comers aren’t chosen to work earlier in the day. Maybe they are weak, or small, or old, or disabled. For one reason or another, though they make themselves available, it simply isn’t enough. There are many, many people that are rejected or overlooked or ignored today, and no matter how hard they try to get enough work, or enough money, or enough friendship, they simply can’t get what they need. Christians must have compassion on them! The landowner does. And this is what God does. At the end of our lives, we’ll be surprised to find out that the unborn child, the lonely elderly woman, the difficult classmate or coworker, the disfigured man…was Jesus Christ. Jesus waits all day long for us to have compassion.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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