With his ferocious roar, large paws with sharp claws, and prideful mane, an egotistical lion roamed the jungle, asking the other animals who the king of the jungle was. “Who’s the king of the jungle?” the lion roared at a monkey. “Why you are, Mr. Lion,” said the monkey with fear in his voice. The lion continued and found a zebra. “Who’s the king of the jungle?” he snarled. “There is no doubt about it. You are Mr. Lion,” said the zebra.
Then, the lion came upon an elephant. Once again, he roared out the question, “Who’s the king of the jungle?” The elephant used his trunk and grabbed the lion by his tail. He spun him around over his head several times, dunked him in a mud hole, and slammed him into a large tree. Dazed and dirty, the lion said, “Well, just because you didn’t know the answer was no reason to get upset.”
When taken out of context, our Gospel reading today can speak about many things. There is the message of equality: everyone should be treated equally and fairly. I am confident that this is a message that will be preached in many churches today. It is not a wrong message, but it does not appear to be what Jesus was speaking about.
There’s also the message of God’s economy. We remember the verse from Ezekiel, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (18:23) Or there’s the one from Second Peter, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (3:9) That works very well because we see that regardless of someone coming to God late in life—when they go to work in the field—they receive the same reward as those who arrived early. We can even run with that, speaking about our sense of fairness and so on. That also is a good message, but it is not quite right in the context of what is going on around the parable.
In context, the parable is a warning to the disciples because they are acting like that silly prideful lion, walking around as though they were the king of the jungle.
What is the context of the parable? It falls closely on the heels of the Mohammad Ali discussion about who is the greatest, which is closely followed by the disciples rebuking those who were bringing the children for Jesus to bless—a sign that they thought they were too important and too busy to be bothered with such trivialities. Following this is the encounter with the rich young man and his question to Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) We know that he goes away sad because he had much. Jesus told him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21) When the young man walks away sorrowful, Peter says, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (Matthew 19:27) Jesus responds, ‘Yes, Peter, you’ll all get a reward,’ but then Jesus adds, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:30) Immediately after saying that, Jesus tells the parable we heard today.
Yes, taken out of context, it can say many things, but in context, the parable is a response to Peter’s question and a further explanation of what is meant by “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” It is as though Jesus were saying to Peter and the disciples, “Yes, you’ve been with me from the beginning, but that does not make you a privileged class.” Why would that be? Because what we receive from God is not some sort of payment. There is no time clock where you punch in and get time-and-a-half for overtime. That is not what we receive from God. What we do receive from God is grace, and God’s grace is not measured by our standards but by His, and His standard is Christ Jesus. As St. Paul tells us, “Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7) Christ’s Gift is the same for us all. It is not earned in any way, shape or form. You do not receive more than anyone else.
Did the disciples get it? No. Very shortly after the telling of this parable, the mother of James and John came to Jesus—the two of them hiding behind her apron—and she said, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21) It is one of those moments where you can see Jesus rubbing his forehead in frustration.
The parable of the workers was a message and warning to the disciples; therefore, it is also a message and a warning to us. In this life, so many believe the saying, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins,” but with God, we have all received more than we can ask for or imagine. We do the things we are called to, not because we are hoping to “earn” more, but because God has chosen us to do them.
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to the disciples about faithfulness. He says, “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10) In today’s parable, those who had worked all day but received the same pay as those who worked only an hour came to the landowner and complained, “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.” Instead of such complaints, Jesus is saying they should have received with grateful hearts what they received and responded, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
That is a hard lesson to hear and understand in our competitive and reward-driven society. Dick Weiss, a former writer and editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said, “A few years ago, my former newspaper did a study in which interviewers asked readers who or what was most important to them. Their answer was, in some ways, surprising. Many did not say their families, children, or God. Instead, their answer was: ‘Me.’” With God, you are worth the life of His Son, Jesus. That is not in question, but what we must remember is… so is everyone else. In the eyes of God, we are of equal worth, and we have been bought with a price—the Blood of Jesus. If that is the case, then how are we to act?
Have I ever told you that I’m a Trekky? I’ve been watching Star Trek since I was a kid and loving every episode and movie. One of the more recent movies, Into the Darkness, came out in 2009. In this one, Mr. Spock and Lieutenant Uhura (you know who these people are!) have a romantic thing. At one point, there is a devastating event, and Mr.—never show any emotions—Spock becomes very emotional and distressed. Seeing this and wanting to comfort the one she loves, Lieutenant Uhura goes to Spock, kisses him softly, and asks, “What do you need?” Mr. Spock pauses, then responds, “I need everyone to continue performing admirably.”
Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Jesus said, ‘In your work for God, do not live like you are working for a coin. Instead, work with the knowledge that you have already received the greatest gift imaginable.” Don’t act like some prideful lion. You may get slapped around by the elephant. Don’t stop to worry about this person or that, but admirably, continue doing the work you have been chosen to perform so that, in the end, all may receive the greatest gift of all.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, you have called us all to holiness, which means sharing in your divine life. Fill us with a sense of our true dignity as those called to be your daughters and sons in the world and your ambassadors of justice, love, and peace. Give us the desire to be worthy of this great calling and the courage to live up to it. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
