MEDITATIONS

MATHEW 20:1-16

We are familiar with this story, the parable of the master who hired workers for his vineyard.

We read of how the Master hired workers early morning at the rate of one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. He went back subsequently to the market place at nine am, at noon, at three and at 5 pm and found people hanging around in the hope of work. He directed all of them to his vineyard to work at reasonable wages. Here in Manali we find Nepali workers hanging around all day with a rope across their backs, waiting in the hope of work. We can easily imagine a similar situation in the times of Jesus.

When the time came to pay, all of them got one denarius each, even the men who worked only one hour. There was much consternation among those who had toiled all day.

This is a story of grace. The ones who had come in later and worked less got the same wages as those who had toiled all day. The generosity of the master is striking. However, we often forget the gripe of those who had worked all day. We can sympathise with their complaint. It does seem grossly unfair.

Salvation is by grace alone. None of our works means anything. We are all saved by grace. It is the coinage of access to His presence. There is no other coinage. Yet those of us who have worked long and hard sometimes feel that in some niggling way, what we have done all these years is worthy of more reward. The law of works creeps in at the door. And in the presence of that odor, grace finds that it has to leave. And we find ourselves bitter, complaining, disappointed, hurt. The cavalcade of sin rides in with all his entourage of destruction. We find this in our inner selves. We observe the havoc this creeping, sidling monster has wreaked in individuals, families and institutions. Even in those who have known the Lord for many years. In fact, the longer some institutions have existed, the more apparent is this "ungrace".

We need to remind ourselves. We stand by grace and by grace alone. The single denarius is our wage, and that also has been paid at a tremendous price. It has been paid for all the world. Suffice to accept this blood stained coin, with grace and thankfulness.