Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
We pray over and over again, “Give us this day, our daily bread.” The landowner in today’s gospel promises “the usual daily wage” and “what is just.” What is the usual daily wage in the time this was written? It was only enough to cover the basic necessities of living. It was a work-a-day live-a-day world. No matter what time of day the landowner finds and calls the laborer to work, they receive what is just. What is just? That every person receives what is needed to live and all without going into debt; that every person who desires to be part of the community and work is welcomed in. This is the kingdom of God! This is the good news of our faith!
And yet, honestly, this passage doesn’t always feel like good news to me for those who started work early in the day. If I work harder or longer, shouldn’t I get more? Even if I let go of judging those who arrive later, I want more for those who came early. In theory, I desire the Kingdom of God. But do I, really? Have I been converted to this vision?
What if we met our judgment with curiosity? Perhaps the later workers are delayed by other commitments, like family needs and caretaking; perhaps their bodies aren’t able to move as quickly; perhaps they were waiting somewhere else for work and were simply not in the right place at the right time to hear about this opportunity. Perhaps those who arrived early had inside knowledge or connections that those who arrived later lacked. Curiosity and compassion help us let go of our judgments of others and receive our daily bread alongside them.
Often, our judgments are also directed toward ourselves. What of the times you and I are “them,” the ones feeling like we’ve arrived late to the work or project or community?
- going back to school or for further training and feeling like you are out of practice or much older
- going back to full-time work after being at home with kids and feeling like you are somehow coming in late
- becoming part of a project that started before you entered and feeling like you’ll never quite as ‘in’ as those who started it
- showing up to volunteer or advocacy work when you wish you had started much sooner
When we are them, those who start later than others, the little voice in our head wonders if we are enough. If we will be able to contribute enough to measure up; if we will get what we need, or if time has passed us by.
Christ calls us to answer the call when it comes and promises us that we will be given our daily bread. Today, Christ frees us from judgment, of ourselves and others. We are enough, and we are given enough. In Christ, we are free. This is Good News!
This is the kingdom, appearing now as it already is in heaven!
—Kelly Adamson