Scripture Scribbles: September 24, 2023

 

the Gospel

 

Matthew 20:1-16a

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."

 

the devotion

 

“It’s not fair!” rings the voice of a small child squabbling over toys in our playroom while I clean the dishes. As I reflect on today’s Gospel, the workers sound very similar. “It’s not fair that I had to work harder than them and they get the same as me. I deserve more! I deserve better!” In fact, I sound similar to the workers - except my wages are measured in “me time.” How often do I keep track of how much more “me time” my husband gets than me and complain about it? How often do I heave a heavy “woe-is-me” sigh because I have to get up another time to fulfill a millionth request from my children when I just sat down? How often do I compare myself to others and wonder to God, why I don’t get what they get, I’ve been so faithful?

The Lord is inviting us to deeper conversion here and to encounter His generosity.

To stop counting the earthly cost.

As beloved children, God has a plan for our life and it is for our ultimate good. It may take some of us until the very end to open our hearts to this plan; yet, the reward is the same - amazing, eternal, constant Joy, Love, and Peace in Heaven with the Ultimate Vineyard Master.

So next time I hem and haw about having to fold my laundry among the other mundane tasks of the day, wondering when I will get my big break, I must remember that my reward lies beyond this world. Even if it takes me a lifetime to accept God’s plan for my life to work in His earthly vineyard - which includes long days of labor sometimes.

Thank you, Lord, for your generosity. Open my eyes to see with gratitude instead of envy.

 

Today’s devotion is written by Diana Giard

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Scripture Scribbles: September 17, 2023