Time is Money (2023-09-24, Sunday-25th)

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Homily file for Sept 24, 2023  25^th Sunday    ● Isaiah 55:6-9 ● Psalm 145 ● Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a ● Matthew 20:1-16 ●      Title:   Parable of the Laborers. Time is Money.

 [_01__]    Is your time valuable ? Yes, your time is valuable.  Benjamin Franklin coined the phrase, "Time is money!" reflecting that more work and effort should yield greater rewards. At first glance, one might interpret this parable as a bizarre  / peculiar calculation of the day's “paycheck”, suggesting that, for God, time does not equate to money. In other words, God's method of offering salvation is arbitrary, random.

            I suggest an alternative. For God, time is money … BECAUSE time inherent value. God's message is clear: even if we turn to Him late in life, at the proverbial 11^th  hour, it is not too late. Time is money.

[_02__]    I was raised by family/parents who taught me that "Time is money", a message you would have also received from parents, family, loved ones about achievement, and hard work. I didn't always follow the advice, but I received encouragement  along these lines. However, my parents also demonstrated their love was not contingent on our accomplishments. While we were encouraged to work diligently, there was no hierarchy of achievement among us. This upbringing echoed the biblical saying that "the first shall be last."

I once shared my decision to enter the seminary and become a priest with a friend who humorously remarked about becoming the "#1 favorite child" with such an unconventional vocation and church connection. This remark prompted me to reflect on my motivation. Was it driven by earthly recognition or a higher, heavenly purpose?   Fortunately, my family did not measure love by achievements, and no one has ever said to me, you're the favorite child because you're a priest. No one's ever going to say that. I don’t want anybody to say that.

[_03__]      In the context of a family, the adage "Time is money" and “what we work for”  takes on a different meaning. Here, it signifies that the more time we spend with each other, the more we treasure our bonds. Families often navigate difficult times,

[][]    You will have had unexpected outcomes on a family vacation or a disaster at a family party or heavy traffic arriving late to a wedding or an important event.  Something you have done has not lived up to the expectations of what you had for a family event. But that didn't make the event not worthwhile. Your family is not – mine too -- not the idealized family on the Orlando DisneyWorld TV commercials where everyone is cheerful and no one ever cries.

[][]  Time is money because, in family, the more time we invest in each other, the richer our relationships become.

However, not everyone grasps this concept, as some of the laborers in the vineyard of the parable clearly did not. When we first encounter this parable, many of us may struggle to understand its deeper message.

[_04__]    In the parable we read that the vineyard tells the workers who feel cheated: "Are you envious because I am generous?" Another biblical translation of the verse reads: "Is your eye evil because I am good?" Sometimes, our perspective or vision can become "evil," our vision distorted, or even malicious.

The vineyard owner is addressing the laborers who equate "time" with "money" but fail to appreciate the value of their time in the vineyard. In the Catholic Catechism (2428), we find the idea that through work, individuals partially fulfill their innate potential. Work is not just for the person's livelihood; it's a fundamental aspect of their identity. Anyone who has experienced the fulfillment of a career or project knows this … that it it entails more than just financial reward; hard work and work done well affects our sense of self / identity.

[_05__]     Jesus invites those who work longer hours to see their labor's duration as something to celebrate and be grateful for. 

The parable poses a challenge to us: do our eyes turn "evil" when we witness others' success, wealth, or good fortune? Envy can cloud our judgment, much like the laborers who felt shortchanged in the vineyard.

[_06__]      In the parable, the laborers are indeed "different." They work for varying lengths of time, with some toiling for 12 hours and others joining at the 11^th  hour, working only one hour. Surprisingly, they all receive the same payment. This equality in compensation prompts envy among those who worked longer hours, causing their eyes to turn "evil." The parable serves as a warning against comparing ourselves to others and assuming that God's love or family love is earned through merit.

[_07__]     I recall an envious episode in my life, due to my reaction to the success of someone. This person wasn't someone I knew well; we merely were from the same high school/neighborhood and about the same age. I felt envy for two reasons: his unusual success was frequently discussed among family and friends, and we shared the same first name. It took me a while to realize that it was the mere sound of his name that was getting under my skin. A rather trivial reason, you might say, but envy, the sin of envy, is far from trivial. While one of its causes – sharing the same first name – may be trivial, envy itself is a potent and destructive.

[_08__]      Envy has the power to distort reality and divert our focus from what truly matters. It's akin to an "evil eye" that skews our perspective and disrupts our contentment. However, God's love transcends our incessant comparisons. He is the owner of the vineyard, and His love remains steadfast. Envy may obscure our vision, but redemption and reconciliation with God are always possible, no matter when we turn back to Him. It may feel like the 11^th  hour for you, and there are moments when I also hear the Good News at the 11^th  hour. But remember, it's never too late.  Seize the day on which you can turn back to God. Time is money.