In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some began early in the day, others much later, yet all received the same wage. From our point of view, it seems quite unfair. But Jesus reveals something far deeper: God’s love is not measured by our sense of fairness, but by God’s own boundless generosity.

We often think in terms of what we have earned or by what we deserve. Yet none of us has earned the gift of life, the beauty of creation, or the love of God. All is pure gift. Even the desire to know and follow God is not of our own making but is a response to the love with which we have been loved since before we were born.

This parable also reminds me that God’s timing is not our timing. We may walk with the Lord for many decades, or we may only turn to God in our final days. Either way, what matters is not when we come to know God, but that we do. God’s plan for each of us is a mystery we cannot fully grasp. We may never understand the ‘why’ or the ‘when,’ but we can be certain of the ‘Who’ – the One who calls, loves, and saves us.

Rather than compare our journey with others, Jesus invites us to rejoice in the generosity of God who longs for all to share in His life. Whether we come early or late, the invitation is the same; to enter a loving relationship with Jesus and to receive the gift of eternal life.

Let us pray for hearts open to God’s call embracing His time, not ours. 

By Colleen Tracey