25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel text is Matthew 20:1-16.

Today’s parable is every bit as much a parable about grace as it is a parable about judgement: God’s grace, that gives because it wants to give, not because it rewards deeds well done.

Grace is difficult for us human beings to accept. It’s much easier and more satisfying to the human spirit to accept the idea of a reward, properly earned. We can admire a medal for valour, or for long service, or for winning an Olympic Medal. If I’ve done something well and am justly rewarded for it, then I receive my due and I can swell with pride as well as with enjoyment. But there’s a certain humility required to accept a reward freely given, when I haven’t earned it.

An exquisite example of grace, one that I’ve used before I know, comes from the novel, “Les Miserables”. Jean Valjean, the main character in the story, is released as a bitter, hardened man after serving 19 years in a harsh early-nineteenth century French prison initially for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s children.

After walking all of his first day of freedom, Valjean seeks food and lodging for the night in a village, but none of the local innkeepers will take in the ex-convict. At last the kindly bishop offers him dinner and a bed. At dinner the bishop even insists that his housekeeper, over her strong disapproval, put on the table all the fine silver tableware that they customarily use whenever there are guests.

During the night Valjean wakes up, takes the silver plates, and slips out of the house. The next day on the road, police, who know nothing of the theft, stop this scruffy looking man and discover the silver plates. Valjean quickly concocts the lie that these precious items were a gift from the bishop. Doubtful of this version of things, the police take Jean Valjean back to the bishop’s house. When they arrive, the bishop immediately says that he is glad Valjean has returned, because he wanted also to give him the silver candlesticks. This astonishing act of mercy makes such an impact on Jean Valjean that he becomes a changed person who treats others with mercy rather than strict justice.

In today’s gospel parable, you might say that Jesus lays out for us, fair and square, the two fundamental rules of the kingdom of heaven: Rule #1: God is gracious; Rule #2: Learn Rule #1.

In the mid-1980s I ministered as deacon to the parishioners of the Cathedral parish. In this parish there was a restaurant that was famous because no matter what main meal you ordered — steak, chicken, rissoles, pork, veal, sausages — it would always come with a serving of spaghetti.

And if, in your confused state, you called the waitress over and told her you didn’t order spaghetti, with a big smile she’d say, “You don’t order spaghetti — it just comes!”

The Good News of the gospel is clear. We don’t order God’s lavish, radical, grace. It just comes.

Thanks be to God!