Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“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.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

What can we learn about God and his kingdom from this parable? God is like an active, involved landowner. He himself goes out five times in a single day to find laborers for his vineyard. God personally extends invitations.

God the employer is considerate of his workers. He asks his manager to pay the last group of workers first, and by paying them a whole day’s wage, he acknowledges the dignity of these laborers who stood all day in the hot sun waiting for an invitation to work. God offers compassion and mercy.

God the landowner is generous. He chooses how to spend his money and pays all workers the same amount. Although some workers consider God’s employment practices unfair, he is lavishly generous to all.

Now, consider whether we’re anything like the workers in the parable. Do we grumble, “Unfair!” yet treat others unfairly? Are we grateful receivers of God’s love and grace? Or do we tend to envy what others receive and compare ourselves to them?

Are we willing to accept God’s invitation to be grateful co-workers in his vineyard and co-create with him a kingdom where the last will be first?

—Diane Amento Owens was introduced to Ignatian spirituality in 2009 through the Midwest Jesuits’ annual Lenten Morning of Reflection. She offers spiritual direction with an Ignatian lens and is the author of Walking with Jesus to Jerusalem: A Lenten Pilgrimage of Hope. 

Good and gracious God,

Thank you for your constant generosity to me. May I use your lavish gifts wisely and well. Help me to be generously available to respond to your invitations as well as to the needs of those you place on my path today. Guide me to make wise and generous choices in how and where I spend money. By your grace, open my eyes so that I may see myself as a loved and valued laborer in your vineyard. Amen.

—Diane Amento Owens