Reflection on Matthew 20:1-16

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Sunday, September 20, 2020

This Gospel passage deals with unemployment, hiring, work contracts and wages— all of them issues that relate to the economy and social morality. However, it would be a mistake to read and interpret this Gospel according to these categories and classifications because it would encourage favoritism and laziness. Look at this Gospel for what it truly is— a parable about the Kingdom. 

Now, the main character in this Gospel is not the workers, rather the owner of the vineyard. So, the Gospel passage can rightfully be called “the vineyard owner in search of laborers,” laborers of faith, hope and charity. Of course, the Landowner is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is searching for collaborators, co-workers, co-creators, co-evangelizers, and even co-redeemers. He is looking for you; he is looking for me. He is inviting us into a relationship and partnership of love. 

The Landowner’s determination is remarkable for he goes out five times (six o’clock, nine o’clock, twelve noon, three o’clock and five o’clock) inviting all manners of people into his vineyard. The number of times he went out is significant. In biblical symbolism and numerology, the number 5 is a symbol of God’s grace, kindness and favor for humanity. At the end of the day, every worker received the same amount of pay. Jesus ends the Gospel with one of the famous one liners, “the first will be last, and the last will be first.” Who are the first and who are the last? The first are probably the Jews who bore the weight of the Torah. They were the chosen race, chosen by God not because of any special thing they did. They were chosen by God for all the nations of the earth. The Son of God was born among them, unfortunately many did not recognize him: “He came to his own, and his own rejected him; but to those who received him he has given the power to become sons and daughters of God” (John 1:11-12). The last are all those who accepted the message of Jesus through the preachings of the Apostles, missionaries, priests, nuns, catechists, evangelists, faith formators, teachers, parents, and guardians etc. “The first will be last, and the last will be first” could also mean that at the hour of judgment, there will be no difference. There will be no Jews or Gentiles; no slaves or freedom. Anyone who accepted the invitation of God will be accepted, while those who rejected it will be rejected. if there is one thing this Gospel teaches us is that there will be a moment of payment for job well done or for job not done at all.