This story is repeated so often in our days. In many countries people do not have stable work, not because they are lazy, but because there is limited work available. I remember clearly, when I visited some of my priest friends in Brazil, seeing a group of men hanging around one of the main squares in the town where I was staying. When I asked my friends about these men they told me that they are waiting for one of the big landowners to come and choose some of them to work on his property. Some would be picked, while others would go back home empty handed. As I reflected on this image I started to realize that these men would have left their homes very early in all kinds of weather. They would wait patiently till someone comes along to offer them work. I could imagine what went through their minds and hearts as they waited. Will I be able to get some money to feed my family today? Will I be able to provide some sustenance for them? Or am I going to go back home after a fruitless day of waiting with nothing to offer my family? As they waited they would have been bombarded by thoughts of inadequacy, hopelessness, total dependency on the whim of others and guilt. They definitely were not lazy. They wanted to work. They desired to take something back home. They made an effort to be there waiting. They did what they could to be faithful to their responsibilities.
Our God is such an incredible God that he honors and takes to heart whatever we try to do to live according to His ways of justice and truth. This is the whole point of the story. God honors us not only when we achieve something but also when we try to do our best to achieve what can possibly be achieved even if we do not reach the final and full result. The man, who was hired at the last moment, might not have worked all day on the landowner’s property. Nevertheless, he tried his best. He was present from early morning. He was prepared to do what it takes, to undergo the sacrifice required, and make himself available in order to provide for his family. This is something noble and God acknowledges every effort that we are prepared to make to live according to His teachings. Far from being a story which seems to be unjust and unfair; it is rather a story that shows clearly the respect and the care that God has for each one of us as we try our best to think like Him, to love like Him, to feel like Him, and to see situations not with our own eyes but with His eyes.
Our God is such a generous God. All of this reminds me also of the story about the man who went to sow seeds in his field. In reality all the sower has to do is sow the seed. He has no control over the growth of the harvest. He has no understanding or influence how the little seed will gradually be able to produce the desired fruit. The growth does not depend on him. Even though the sower is not in control of the actual growth that is occurring in the seed in such a mysterious manner, yet he did what he is supposed to do. He put the seed in the soil and because of this there will be a harvest in the due time.
This is a great consolation for all of us. Sometimes we think that because we have not attended university, or because we are not as successful in life as we would like to be materially speaking, then we cannot really contribute much to society. We cannot really make a big difference in our lives and in the lives of others. We think that we cannot influence others, and therefore we remain enclosed within ourselves not using the great qualities and talents that God has given to us.
It is enough to say a word of encouragement. It is enough to acknowledge the good in others. It is enough to be ready to do what we can in order to provide our families with love, acceptance, openness and kindness. In our society in Australia we may not lack many comforts. We work hard, we make a lot of sacrifice and we are prepared to go to any length in order to live a comfortable life. However what is really needed in the lives of many of our people are the values that we have been brought up with. Our country needs people who are passionate about a close relationship with Jesus Christ, who are always ready to demonstrate respect for all and dignity for all, who are slow to condemn and to judge but who are always ready to support and give a person a fair go.
So courage lets us never sell ourselves short. Let us never put ourselves down. Let us always remember who we are in God. God does not ask about our ability but he asks about our availability. Let us take every opportunity to act and be like Jesus and our smallest efforts are turned into great opportunities of grace and meaningful life for ourselves and others.
God Bless
