Thursday, November 30, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 20:1–16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers 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 marketplace; 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 laborers 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.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

The esteemed football coach Vince Lombardi once said that in his game there was no room for second place. His remark is but one small yet unsurprising sign of a culture that is fiercely competitive. Contrast that with the approach of Ted Lasso, television’s beloved football-turned-soccer coach who holds a more tolerant view of loss when he says, “For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.”

Nevertheless, our society is still characterized by the Lombardi view. Better to be first than last whether on the scoreboard or any other measure in life. By these metrics, those seeking work from Jesus’ metaphorical landowner are simply out of time and out of luck.

One way this shows up in everyday life is how we treat those who change their minds.

Have you noticed that for some, including yourself, it can take an excruciatingly long time to shift our point of view? Sometimes it takes years for us to get it right when it comes to addressing society’s ills or combatting the pernicious “isms” that prevent all of us from flourishing. When we come around, the response can be critique and shame rather than gladness. “What took you so long?!” some say incredulously. Then the crowd circles around us and wonders, “If you weren’t in it from the beginning, why should we honor your presence now?”

However understandable that point of view may be to those of us who put in the sweat and hard work, Jesus’ parable tells us God is less concerned about the timing of our repentance than in the substance of it. God’s love, as Paul wrote in Corinthians, seeks no record of wrongs. To which we could add, it keeps no record of time. Whether you join today or you joined years ago, whether you consider yourself early or late, when it comes to living a life of righteousness, justice, and compassion, you are always on time. God’s time.

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Prayer
God of Patient Love, help me to rejoice that it is never too late to do what is right. Let me be guided this day by your generous and welcoming spirit. Amen.

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Written by Joseph L. Morrow, Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Community Engagement

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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