On one level today's parable appears to be very unfair—at least if we judge it by modern work practices. However, the vineyard owner makes it abundantly clear, from the outset, how much he is going to pay the workers: the workers who start out at the beginning of day agree to their rate of pay. What becomes obvious is how much God loves humanity—the greatest part of creation. The Vineyard owner deliberately goes out to the marketplace throughout the day in order to make sure that everyone in that village has employment—even the ones on the very edge of society. The vineyard owner makes a conscious decision to treat all his employees in exactly the same way. Those given employment at the eleventh hour would have been the disabled, the hated and the ones not accepted into polite society. This parable affirms the universal outreach of the Church, yet, so often, we try to limit that unconditional love by our attitudes and words. If we are not careful, we can limit God's love into our own image and likeness. Today is a reminder to look humbly at our own attitudes and how we treat others.

Do we go along with those politicians and the media who try to demonise those who are different in our society? Who are those, in our world today, that are waiting around at the 'eleventh hour'? I think of Anwar whom I met at hospital recently. He worked as a translator for the US and British forces in his native Afghanistan and found himself a target when the Taliban took over. After a horrendous journey and parting with his family savings, he eventually landed on the British coastline—yes in a small boat. As a refugee, he is part of the 'invasion' that our Home Secretary speaks about. In the hospital waiting room I certainly did not see him as an invader: he was so grateful for the fact that he was safe, even though he did experience some racism—no doubt by those ennobled by right wing media 'experts'. Holding a PhD in computer science and working to support the British Army, he now searches for work to feed his family. Unlike those at the end of today's parable, Anwar has not been able to find steady employment because of the strict rules that refugees have to follow. A man who has already given so much to help this nation in war, is left in limbo while an overstretched Home Office try to work out his legal status.

Like thousands, Anwar is the victim of people smugglers. It is all too easy to criminalise those who land on our southern shores and ignore those who place the refugees in such inhumane situations. Today, we are invited to treat our 'eleventh hour' people with real compassion. They are not just statistics or threats to a British way of life. Anwar helped me to appreciate all that I have been given.

The loving God of today's parable is loving and accepting. As his friends and family, we are called to follow that example. The 'eleventh hour' people remind us that it is never too late to make a positive contribution. I have made big mistakes in the past, but I am so grateful to those who have been like the owner of today's story. They have given me a second chance—even a thirtieth chance! They have displayed the unconditional acceptance and forgiveness of God. There are some very powerful figures in our Church who are very critical of our Pope who seeks to make that divine love a more obvious reality. They seem to think that we must limit that love, urging us to act as liturgical 'bouncers' at the table of the Lord. However, as Pope Francis reminds us:

The forgiveness of God is a sign of his overwhelming love for each of us; it is the love that leaves us free to move away, like the prodigal son, but that awaits our return every day; it is the enterprising love of the shepherd for the lost sheep; it is the tenderness that welcomes every sinner who knocks at his door. (17/09/2017)

I hope you will get a chance to meet an 'eleventh hour' person this week. Like Anwar, you will discover that they are real people with real families, sharing real joys and sorrows too. Vatican II demands that we share in the ministry of Jesus—it is not a nice optional extra:

The joys and the hopes, the griefs, and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of humanity. United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man. That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with humanity and its history by the deepest of bonds. (Gaudium et Spes #1)

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Shaojie on Unsplash