The landowner sends the first group to the back of the line to give them the best view of generosity at work. He makes it so that the first group has no choice but to watch goodness and mercy lavished upon people they don’t think deserve it — people who, upon closer look, are just like them.
And by putting this group at the back, the landowner makes space for the later groups of workers in the front, a space they likely are not used to taking up. The generous, merciful landowner — reflecting the radical goodness of God — wants these people to know they matter too. And while there isn’t much dialogue recorded with the later groups, the landowner speaks volumes through his actions, which seem to say:
“My friend, you will get what you need, the energy you exerted has not gone unnoticed. Take your place at the front of the line, and pay attention:
See that your worth cannot be measured in baskets filled or hours clocked.
See that it is never ‘too late’ in my vineyard.
See that your presence here matters—and nothing you do or don’t do can change that.”
It is with this same radical spirit of fairness and generosity, of justice and grace, of creativity and mystery, that God looks upon each of us — and it is in this spirit that God calls each one of us to act.
Our God is a God of infinite possibilities, whose ways are high above the human ways to which we’ve grown accustomed. Our God cannot be tamed within the made-up constructs of in or out, worthy or unworthy, last or first. Our God is near to all who call upon the divine name in truth, no matter if we got to work at the crack of dawn or right before quitting time.
--Jessie Bazan
Image source: http://www.biblestudy1.com/laborers.html
Quotation source & complete reflection
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