25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard (Mt 20:116).

A landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard…
Laborers assemble as early as 6am in public places to make deals for their services.

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage…
The denarius was a workman’s daily wage.

Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
They were gossiping.

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…
These last must probably too lazy to work.

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers….
The Greek word used for owner is kyrios (lord). It is often used for God.

Take what is yours and go.
The denarius given to the first group is their wage; to the second, as the owner’s gift. Because the owner is the master of his property, he can do as he pleases.

LESSON:

The owner of the vineyard goes on into the evening hiring workers. Yet he gives all the same full day’s wage of one denarius. With the first group, he acts justly. With the second group, he acts generously.

The Jews were chosen first. But the Gentiles (we) who were called later are also treated in the same way.

Peter was called first. Paul came later. Yet God gave Paul an important mission (Apostle of the Gentiles), as he gave to Peter the important mission of Apostles to the Jews.

God is the Master and Lord of the Universe. He can act as he pleases. He can give his gifts as he wills. But God never acts arbitrarily. He is guided only by his love and goodness. We should, therefore, trust god and let him act the way he does.