Dear sisters and brothers,

As we begin a new Message Series called “C.H.R.I.S.T” (our discipleship pathway) we reflect together on the first letter of this acronym “C” which stands for Community. And how appropriate it is that we begin by delving deeper into the parable of “The Workers in the Vineyard,” a beautiful reminder of our call to live and work together as one community of faith.

This parable is Jesus’ response to Peter’s question about the rewards for following Him. Peter convinced that he and his fellow apostles have joined the Lord early in ministry and hence deserve more, asks, “What then will there be for us?” Jesus’ reply, “The last will be first and the first will be last,” challenges Peter’s as well as our understanding of fairness. It highlights that God’s generosity often defies our sense of justice, revealing that divine grace is not about what we deserve but about God’s boundless love.

Jesus rightly warns Peter and us that we be careful with the ledger. Because the moment we bring the logic of deserving to grace, the moment our faithfulness becomes the measuring yard for what we are owed, we have stopped receiving grace and started expecting wages. And wages and grace are two entirely different things.

As Paul reminds us in Romans 4:4, wages are a debt owed for work done while grace is a free gift. This distinction is crucial; grace cannot be earned or counted, as it flows from God’s generous heart.

Ultimately, the parable teaches us that God’s generosity surpasses human notions of justice. It’s based on the principle, “to each according to one’s need and from everyone according to his ability”.

As disciples, let us embrace this “scandalous grace” recognizing that our worth is determined not by our efforts alone, but by God’s unconditional love and his undeserved generosity towards all.

Who am I to envy God’s generosity towards my neighbor?

With prayerful wishes and blessings,
Fr. William Rosario
Pastor