The workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20: 1 - 16)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.

Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?’

They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.’

And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.

On receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day in the hot sun.’

But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I do you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius. Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you jealous because I am generous?’

And Jesus concluded, "So the last will be first, and the first, last.”
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attended evening mass today @holy cross. Felt comforted and humbled knowing that our myopic view of justice does not exist in God's definition. His definition of wad we'd probably shrug off as a form of ridiculous love--is equal treatment for all.

Isn't it comforting to know tt saints or sinnners, catholics or non-catholics, rich or poor, strong or weak, He loves us all the same?

Isn't it obvious?

Fr Richards gave 2 anecdotes to illustrate how ignorant we all are, to the seemingly obvious. damn hilarious. poignant lessons learnt in the midst of laughing at ourselves.

Anecdote 1:
A man was looking for his car keys which he had misplaced. He was searching desperately for it under the bright lamp posts. A kind stranger saw him and decided to help in the search.

Aft an hr, the stranger asked him, "Can u rmb where u last saw ur keys?"

Man answered: "Over there. *points to a unilluminated corner*"

Kind stranger: "Then why are you looking for keys here?"

Man replied: "It's brighter here.."

Anecdote 2:
This immigrant was crossing at Mexico border, pushing his bicycle with 2 sacks of sand hanging on each side of the bicycle handles.

Immigration officer stopped him to investigate as he suspected immigrant was up to no good and was certain tt e immigrant was trying to smuggle in smtg illegal. He checked the sacks of sand but cld not find anything fishy abt it. So he let the immigrant off, very much unwillingly.

Day aft day, immigration officer met the same immigrant, stopped the immgrant, checked the sacks of sand, but found ntg illegal. He reluctantly let the immigrant pass thru as he found no evidence against him.

One day, the immigration officer managed to bump into the immigrant at a bar. He casually struck a conversation with the immigrant (since he was off duty anyway..)

Immigration officer: Look, i'm sure there's smtg u've been smuggling in day after day. Tell me what exactly are u up to?

Immigrant: Well, I smuggle bicycles..
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Aren't we silly? Bet u all r grinning at ur own silliness. Ignoring the obvious when its right in front, staring at u.

"It's not too late to make a change. But dun wait till the eleventh hour before u are jolted to make a difference, coz most of the time, pple die at 1030!" muahahaha