Readings: Exodus 20:12-17, Matthew 20:1-16

‘And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.’

Hanging around in the marketplace without work, is not good for individuals or for society as a whole. Pope Francis has said ‘Those who do not have a job feel that they lack something, they lack the dignity that work gives them.’ Without work, without that dignity afforded to them, we find people becoming alienated from society, and even from themselves.

In the beginning we discover, ‘God saw that there was no one to work the ground,’ (Genesis 2:5) and that humankind was created in His image (Genesis 1:27). Being created, and loved, along with work, gives dignity to a person, it gives us purpose and a chance to contribute to the betterment of ourselves and society, to share the gifts and talents given to us, unique and individual. Work provides the opportunity to express them in meaningful ways that facilitate the development of a personal autonomy in order that we may meet our basic needs for example in providing shelter, food, and self-esteem.

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, the landowner makes agreements between himself and the people he hires to work it. Agreements are by their nature a participation between two or more people – they are decisions that we choose to accept or reject.

We see that all the workers accepted the payment for their toil of one denarius. And for the last who worked all day, comparison becomes the thief of joy as they grumble against the landowner. And we too are also left wondering how this might be fair, that those who have worked the longest receive the same reward for their efforts as those that have laboured for just one hour. Yet, it is a case in point that each of us with our talents and gifts may find the same work easier or harder than others – and this bears no shame, for our uniqueness defines us – our humanity in this time and this space given over to us, exists as a complex system.

The metaphysical essence of our humanity embraces all potential and actual being so, every human has for example the potential to be male or female until conception and potential being becomes actual being or has the potential to be a chef or musician until their actual being makes it so or not. The relations within every person to our past, our present and hopes for the future shape our vision as individuals belonging to a community. For no one is an island.

Each of us navigates through an internal filter made of our unique preferences, along with common desires. Our eyes are like windows, or a doorway, between two worlds. The vision of faith, and reason hidden in the depths of our being, are made manifest and present to all that is outside. In the arena of the world, the soul is subject to its changes and chances by our participation with it. We were created for this participation, for relationship – work and stewardship relate us to the earth, each other, and to God. We work for the betterment of what is, and for whatever might be. The future should be brighter as we solve the problems that people may [or may not] encounter. Work should serve humanity, not destroy it.

The problem with assigning a measure of dignity according to the measure of reason or outward appearances is that we miss the extraordinary beauty of the unique persons that we are, and what God has given each of us to do. The Apostles worked as doctors of souls, to seek and save the lost, and their reward was the same though each had unique trials and tribulations of their own to bear.

We are reminded of Peter’s question to Jesus when he asked, “Lord, what about him?” and Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:21-22). Each suffered their own fate, yet all rejoiced and was glad, for the reward is great in heaven. (Matthew 5:12).

In this world, death comes to us all – as Christians we have the certain hope for that physical transformation in the flash of an eye from one life to the next, ‘for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Will we complain because God is generous? Our Father in heaven is greater than any imagination, our Father is Love, an open house, that in the wideness of His mercy, our sin has been buried and we are raised and invited into a new life with and in Him. Jesus died on the cross for our freedom, so that we may receive the generosity of this gift, not by our effort. Not by our effort were the heavens opened – Jesus did that work on the cross, so that no one may boast. We are free to let our hearts be changed, to work not for what we have to do, but by our desire to do.

That freedom exists within us – within the place of solitude found in the consciousness of all humankind, the place where life happens to our own perception and no other, therefore, it is a natural right coming under Natural Law. A natural right that it exists by the fact of existence in itself, and therefore can be considered ‘unalienable,’ not transferable and self-evident. This means it is in the place that we are alone that we are held accountable for our responses, to the changes and chances of the life we are given by birth.

This is in the American Declaration of Independence. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’

To be lawless removes all freedom, to say persons can act in any way without bounds is to bind all peoples. Therefore, as social creatures who do not live alone on this ‘Pale Blue Dot,’ (Carl Sagan) called earth – we have a great need for cooperation through effective altruism, or love.

Love, as all things working together with and for each other, protects the freedom of another – so that for the individual [who is free in his/her being], an intention and/or act must have a direction toward the end which respects the freedom of the other. In this way liberty exists as both an end and a mode, that is in the self and the other, the individual and collective.

Though we are directed toward a heavenly vision, as St. Aquinas taught the beatific vision is the human being’s “final end” in which we attain a perfect happiness – happiness in this life is often construed as feelings, which in and of themselves are not the goal of good government, for to chase pleasure for its own reward is hedonistic, and at times self-defeating. Instead, we must seek to promote the circumstances in which a person may choose happiness for themselves and others, for good rather than ill.

Therefore, let us continue to not judge by outward appearances. Let us strive to meet the needs of our shared humanity, whilst giving space for the people in our lives, and the world, to choose a way that is between them and God.

Amen.