Do it anyway.......

A friend of mine posted this on facebook, and while I'd read this before it is good to be reminded. I confess, I should have this playing on a loop in my car when I drive......I sometimes get a bit angry when seeing the driving habits of others...mea culpa!

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” ― Mother Teresa

I didn't even need my resume'!

Matthew 20.1-16

The Labourers in the Vineyard

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers 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 market-place; 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 labourers 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.’

It seems likely that this story is a sort of "sermon" inserted by the author of Matthew's Gospel to address some concerns in the community for which it is written. It helps to remember that the early followers of Jesus expected his imminent return. Perhaps those who accepted faith in Christ early in the community's formation resented those newly arrived who received the same benefits of membership as the "old timers". Don't I deserve more as one here from the begining?

I love how landowner hires everyone regardless of qualifications. No resume' required, s/he just says to start working. At days end all receive the same wage even though the last hired worked but an hour. This type of generosity is seledom seen to this very day. We might sympathize with those who worked all day in the burning sun, but generosity by it's very nature is extravgant.

Perhaps we modern readers of this story might take from it's particulars that everyone in the community of Christ, and yes those outside it, are equal and deserving of the extravagant gift of justice and largess demonstrated by our God. We may from time to time feel we deserve more for whatever human reason, but doesn't it make things simpler when all receive the same? Christ came for all; who are we to decide on the divine pay-scale?

Because silence..........

......seemed the only appropriate response, I didn't post yesterday. For the story of Father Mychal Judge who died giving the last rites to a dying fire fighter on 9/11/01 click here

A thought for today and every day.....

"None of us can do anything great on our own, but we can all do a small thing with great love."
Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta

I guess you're doing something right.......

......if you're "ticking off" (I almost used another phrase) the Vatican. The late Jesuit Anthony De Mello got in trouble for statements like the one below. He held his ground and has a devoted band of followers to this day. Sadly, he died tragically young, but isn't that often the way with the gifted among us?


There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. "Obedience keeps the rules," he would say. "Love knows when to break them." TONY DE MELLO, S.J. (1931~1987)


If you'd like to read the Vatican's criticism (I scanned it-seems the usual effort to "control" to me), you may do so here.

If Jesus were here today....

.......do you think he'd belong to any organized religious body (church)?
Do you think he might be horrified at what some do and say in his name?
Do you think he'd find any modern day Pharisees?
Would he still "hang" with the sinners or opt for the saints?
In the words of St. Luke: Will he find any faith on earth? Luke 18:8

As the young folks wisely say: Just Sayin'