My dear friends in Christ,
Parables, by definition, have more than one meaning. Take for example today’s parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. Jesus issues a “warning against any assumption on the part of the disciples that privilege and reward in the Kingdom belong in higher degree to those first called.” The workers who arrived early and worked the whole day were very upset with the landowner who paid the workers who arrived later in the day the same wage. Those who came early felt that they were privileged to more earnings and they questioned him. The Landowner replied with his own questions and a bold statement of faith: “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." Positioning does not matter in God’s Kingdom. God’s generosity in creating God’s form of equality will be our reward in Heaven.
Speaking of generosity, thank you to all who contributed to the collections for Hurricane Harvey and for the Franciscan Liberian Mission.
Next weekend, tickets will go on sale for our Oktoberfest Beef & Beverage Dinner featuring the Gene Tirpak Oom-Pah Band. I would suggest that you get your tickets early to avoid being shut out. It was very difficult to turn people away from the Spaghetti Dinner but Bogdan Hall can only seat so many and we don’t want to upset the Fire Marshall.
Please refer to the information next to this column regarding the blessing of the Animals next Saturday. Please, no Elephants!
May God bless you all!
Father John