Today’s gospel is an important one for the spiritual life. In particular, we hear Our Lord remind us that not everyone is called at the same time, and yet, for those who persevere to the end, the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
“When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' When those who had started about five o'clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.' He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:8-16
This Gospel beautifully displays the loving providence of God. He knows, to the moment, when He will call each soul and they will respond, through His grace, to that salvific call. It is not the same for everyone. Some, like the first workers mentioned in the Gospel, labor in the Church for their salvation from birth. They cooperate with God’s grace, and they persevere to the end. This is a great grace.
But there are others who go through their lives away from Christ and His church, but in the twilight of their days, they respond to that divine call to come home and repent. This, too, is an immense grace. These are like the workers who begin at five o’clock. They come much later, but still persevere to the end. They, too, receive their share in the glory of God in Heaven.
So many times, we attempt to act as judges over the soul in front of us. We believe that we deserve more than they do because we have been running this race for longer. Or, even worse, we see their sins and deny their ability to repent and be saved. Surely, this judgment will be passed on to us.
This Gospel reminds us of a very important mystery: that of the grace of final perseverance. What the workers in the parable do not understand is that this particular grace cannot be merited. We cannot merit the grace of final perseverance. It must be asked for, and it must be asked for incessantly. This is a most necessary grace as it is what assures that we will die in a state of grace, repentant, and desiring union with God. We cannot be saved without the grace of final perseverance.
In addition, there are many graces that God has prepared for us that He has providentially ordered that we must specifically ask for to receive. And He will not grant us that grace unless we ask. Further, there are many that are particularly ordained to be received through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. Likewise, we ought to plead for her assistance to attain this great grace. A day should not go by that we do not ask for this grace.
Let us ask for the great mercy of God, that we are called, early or late, and that we persevere to the end.
Comforting! We need more homilies like this!!