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In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, we read a parable by Jesus that has great application today, especially in the Catholic Church in nations such as the United States that have many new immigrants.
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, he 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, he 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. 4 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” (Matthew 20-1-16).
Today, this passage is so important, for oftentimes, I have heard long-time parishioners speak negatively of newly-arrived immigrant brothers and sisters from Mexico as well as from nations in Central American and South America. Aside from racism, some “native parishioners” can’t imagine why newcomers act like they are full parishioners. Well, my friends, it is because just like the workers who were chosen at the end of the day received the same pay as the ones hired early in the day, newcomers to a a parish ARE EQUAL in every way. For that matter, the baby just baptized is as much a Catholic Christian as the pope.
Do you welcome the immigrant and newcomer to your parish? If not, maybe you should, for that is what Jesus was talking about in today’s Gospel.
