Who is Wrong? Landowner or the Laborers?

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

20^th Week – Wednesday

Gospel – Matthew 20: 1-16

 Who is Wrong? Landowner or the Laborers?

1) The logic of the Landowner is perfectly Right

At the outset it appears that by giving equal amount to all the labourers including one who worked only for few hours, the Landowner is right or not? 

Whether he should have been more generous towards those who worked for the whole day? 

The question seems to be reasonable. But we need to see the logic of the Landowner.

2) Both Agreed for Days usual Wage

The owner agreed for a reasonable wage to be given to the labourer.

He didn't argue with the labourer to work for less wage 

It appears that the labourer was very happy when he fixed the days wage in the morning, because it was normal accepted days wage and the landowner was ready to pay that amount 

The labourer freely agreed to work for days wage. The landowner did not force them to work in his vineyard or to work for lesser wage 

The contract between the landowner and the labourers is quite reasonable and there isn't any dispute of any sort. 

3) The Landowner kept his Word and paid them as they agreed

When the days work was over the Landowner summoned his secretary to pay the labourers as per the agreement. 

Those workers who came first had agreed for days wage, and the master paid the same amount, which they agreed for 

In no way the landowner is at fault. Because he perfectly followed his word and paid them the assured sum. 

So there wasn't any fault from the landowner, whatsoever.

4) The Generosity of the Landowner

In reality master paid full amount to those workers who came first and worked for the whole day 

Those workers who came at 12 or 3 or at 5 they were not eligible for the days full wage, since they had not done the full days work. 

Even then the landowner pays them full. What do we understand from? 

The generosity of the Master 

He was extra generous towards those who worked only for few hours. 

He was able to understand their situation and he became generous towards them. 

So the whole episode gives us the impression that the landowner was extra generous towards those labourers who worked only for few hours

5) The Value of your work does not change because of the less work of others

The labourers who came first stated to evaluate their work and the value of the work comparing to the last person 

They thought that the value of their work went up because of the less work of the other labourers

In fact the value of the first worker does not change because of the less work of the last labourer

This is the wrong logic to consider that we are better than others, because of our work and the value of our work. 

6) Wrong comparison by the labourers

The labourers who came first they compared their work with the work of the last labourers. 

This is a wrong comparison. They should have compared their work to the days wage they were getting. 

Wrong comparison will always give wrong results. That is what happened with those labourers who grumbled at the landowner

7) Compare your performance with your own previous performance and not with others performance

This is very important. We need to evaluate our performance with our previous performance. Only then we can make progress. 

8) Compete with the Situation and not against another person

Competing against another person is a unhealthy practice, which makes a person to put down others and to claim that one is better than the other

Competing against the person gives rise to jealousy, hatred, unhealthy relationship, and cheating 

Instead compete against the situation. This will enable ones performance towards the perfection

Competing against the situation has the goal of achieving 100%. 

Competing against the person has the goal of achieving only few more percent against competitor. 

Example competing against the situation makes the student to get 100% marks. He/she does not bother about others percentage

Where as a person who competes against the another person his goal is only to get one more percent than his competitor. If his competitor gets 90 % his goal is to get 91% and not 100%. So that is the difference, which is not all good. 

9) The labourers should have seen the generosity of the landowner than grumbling at him

Since they had received what was perfectly right, that is days wage, they should have seen the generosity of the landowner towards those labourers who came at the last hour. 

Seeing such generous attitude in others needs love for the neighbour and compassionate heart. 

The landowner had that virtue, but those labourers who came at the first hour didn't have such a great divine virtue. 

They were selfish and were seeing their own gain? 

How do I see this whole episode? 

Who is wrong and who is right according to my logic? 

Can I see someone's generosity towards another or will I be jealous towards such attitude?

Am I able to practice some sort of generosity towards others? 

 God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore