The parable of the vineyard owner and the workers that Jesus tells in the Gospel today (Matthew 20:1-16) is unsettling because it seems so unfair. Like all parables, this one is supposed to provoke and unsettle us so that we can see some deeper spiritual truths. The parable teaches us that God’s grace is something we could never earn, it’s pure gift. It also shows us that in God’s eyes we all have the same dignity since God is equally generous with us. Finally, the Gospel challenges us to be generous like God, especially with those we don’t believe deserve our generosity.
