Septuagesima Sunday 8.2.09 Persevering to the end
Our Lord’s purpose in telling the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard was not to make the first last and the last first, but rather to make everyone first.
His purpose in coming to the world was to save as many as possible, preferably everyone.
The parable was aimed at the Jews, in particular the religious leaders, who had become complacent about their relationship with God, thinking that God cared only about Jews and hated everyone else.
Whereas, in fact, God loved all races, and gave preference to the Jews merely to use them as a spearhead or springboard to reach the rest of the world.
The result of the parable story: that everyone gets one denarius can be understood as meaning that as long as we are all saved, what does it matter if we came in early or late, provided we make it in the end?
The Jews should not resent the Gentiles being saved also. The ‘religious’ people should not resent the sinners being saved. The early workers received what they were promised and what they wanted – they have no ground for complaint.
Those of us who come to Mass, even on weekdays, go to Confession, pray the Rosary, do various devotions and penances... we work hard for our faith, and we hope for a reward, and the reward will be given us if we persevere.
But if others come into salvation at the last minute, even on their deathbeds, should we resent that? Of course not. That is a moment of joy. The angels in heaven rejoice more over one sinner who repents than over 99 who stayed faithful.
We are not in a competition with anyone. We want simply that everyone, or as many as possible, can be saved. Whether early or late, no matter, provided they escape the snares of the devil.
One of those snares is precisely the temptation to envy and bitterness. Remember the older brother in another parable, the Prodigal son. He resented that his younger brother was being forgiven and fussed over, while he himself had never strayed.
Bitterness at the good fortune of another makes no sense in the light of God’s generosity in mercy. He has infinite supplies of grace and mercy to give, so we are in no danger of running out. It is not as though we are fighting over some limited quantity, such as food in a time of famine.
The devil will tempt us to turn this life into a tragedy of self-pity. Why do I get the worst of everything? Why does everyone else have an easier life than I have? Why should my brother or my neighbour get to heaven when he has had the best of this life too?
Yet all the while Our Lord holds out to us the free gift of eternal life. If we were all offered a million dollars would we take it, or would we argue about how much others are getting?
Why not just take what is offered and be grateful?
It is so simple if only we see it. Only the stirrings of the devil can make it so hard as we find it.
In any case, if we are the early workers, it is the better position of the two. Because we have the privilege of serving the Lord in our lifetimes, and can share His cross. Our reward will be greater for that, and also it gives Him greater honour.
It also gives us a chance to contribute to the salvation of others and that is a worthy task.
So the earlier we start the better, the longer we toil the better. Early workers must persevere to the end. The reward will be worth it. For those who came in late – give thanks for God’s mercy and use all remaining time in His service.
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