Jesus has a way of shocking people out of their smugness in thinking what is fair, what is due to them. The religious leaders and elders of Israel are scandalized at his association with tax collectors and sinners, when he should prefer the company of those who follow the Law of Moses.

In today’s parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, he tells of the laborers who worked early and who grumble why those who worked late receive the same wage. This is so unfair. They should have been paid more. Jesus is not telling us that God is not generous with his reward by not giving more.

In fact, God goes beyond our sense of justice or fairness. He gives graces in superabundant measure. He gives eternal life. Now, eternal life is not fair; it is a gift of God’s grace. If eternal life were “fair” (that is, a payment to men, based upon the quality and quantity of their good works), no one would ever go to heaven.

Eternal life cannot be earned, but it can only be received as a gift, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. If salvation is measured by our “merits,” we would always be wanting. Thus, we should be happy that all receive the gift of eternal life, whether we work early or arrive late.

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “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. 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.”