"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.  When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.'  So they went.  When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same.  And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?'  They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'  He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'  When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.'  When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.  Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.  And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'  But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Or are you envious because I am generous?'  So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

(Also see Psalm 101.1)

This is a parable of God's justice ("I will give you what is just").  Man's justice involves a careful calculation of reward and punishment based on individual merit and behavior.  It judges quantity and quality - especially in our capitalist system which considers labor and not the laborer - and has little regard for the person.  God's justice is overflowing, gratuitous generosity toward all.  We see this overflowing superabundance of His gifts at the miracles of the wine at the wedding as well as at the multiplication of the loaves.  The gifts were free, unmerited and overflowing for all.

If we wish to be children of our Father in heaven we must do the same.  Our mercy must flow out to all those around us in abundance.  "Have the same attitude toward all," said Paul (Romans 12.16)  "The Father makes his sun rise on the evil and the good." (Matthew 5.45)  We, on the other hand, parcel out our light as misers, giving more to whom we think deserves more, less to those who have worked less.

We are the late comers!  We are those who have arrived at the end of the day.  We therefore must be overwhelmingly grateful of God's justice - which is his mercy overflowing for all.  Let us receive from Him then imitate Him.