The late Henri Nouwen, Dutch priest and theologian, once said that, “The hardest thing for us to understand is how God can love all human beings with the same unlimited love, while at the same time loving each of them in a totally unique way . . .”
The parable of the laborers in the gospel of Matthew demonstrates God’s full grace in action . Why are you standing here?” asks the vineyard’s owner to a group of laborers at almost the close of the day . ‘Because no one has hired us, they respond . We’re still here because nobody needs us, because there is no work for us. The owner takes them to the vineyard and pays them as much as those who were hired during the course of the day .
Hiring them wasn’t so much a good financial deal as it was a life-affirming, life giving affirmation of their worth. ‘I need you! I have work for you to do! You are valuable to me.’
God’s grace is not mere acceptance. Just as
The Prodigal Son got up the morning after his welcome home party and was expected to be at work in the field with his older brother, the laborers who were hired at five now have the opportunity to go to work the next morning at 6:00 am because the best news of all is that they are wanted and needed and valued.
Most of us discover along the way, that the best of our relationships are based, not so much on our wonderful attributes, but on someone else’s patience, forgiveness, acceptance, grace. And that whatever standing we have with God, likewise, is not, finally, because we are so wonderful, hardworking, upright and righteous, but because God somehow chooses to love us.
Dr. Willy L Mafuta, Ph.D, Th.D
Senior Pastor,
Hopewell United Methodist Church, Hopewell, NJ 08525