20th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 17th August 2022 — Gospel: Mt 20,1-16
Surprising Reversal
Mt 19,30 serves as a transition to today’s parable of the labourers in the vineyard (20,1-16). The first part of the parable describes the hiring of the labourers – from first to last (20,1-7). The second part describes the payment of the labourers – from the last to the first (20,8-15). The two halves become a reversal conclusion in the last verse (20,16) and of Mt 19,30. The emphasis on the parable is the equal treatment God freely bestows on all, an emphasis which does not fit Matthew’s concern about eschatological reversal and the reward of the poor in 19,30 and 20,16. Actually, Matthew’s interest is focused on the first and last groups (19,30 and 20,16), which supply the contrast. The reversal-theme is sounded in the command to pay the last first, though the main reason for the reversal here is to allow the first group to learn about the payment given to the last group and thus to build up their hopes. The lord’s generosity, which is a pleasant surprise to the last group, becomes a cruel disappointment to the first group. The grumblers harbor envy because the lord is generous towards those who don’t merit. His generosity is an expression of a gracious freedom, not a malicious unpredictability, while their complaints are an expression of their lovelessness. God’s justice bestows mercy on the unfortunate and rejects the proud claims of merit (Mt 8,11-12). This reminds of Paul’s teaching on God’s saving justice and sovereign free choice (Rom 9,14-18). Those who think they can calculate exactly how God must act are in for a surprise.
