Leo XIV on the parable of the workers in the vineyard: 'Jesus does not establish rankings'
At today's audience, before 35,000 faithful in St Peter's Square, Pope Leo XIV continued the Jubilee catechesis on “Jesus Christ our hope". The parable in the Gospel of Matthew is "a story that fosters our hope". Speaking to young people, he urged them “not [to] delay, roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous and you will not be disappointed!”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV was acclaimed by about 35,000 people from every continent, gathered in St Peter's Square this morning for the Wednesday general audience.
Before starting, the pontiff made a long tour in the popemobile, offering blessings and accepting gifts. From the parvis, he continued the cycle of reflections for the Jubilee, on the theme of “Jesus Christ our hope”.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Mt 20, 1-16), “a story that fosters our hope,” was at the centre of today's catechesis in which “the Lord reminds us that our life is worthy, and his wish is to help us discover this.”
Like the workers waiting in the market square to be called for a job, so we too, “at times [. . .] have the impression that we cannot find meaning for our lives,” Leo explained. But just as time passes for them, time passes for us too, and we may continue to feel that we are not “acknowledged or appreciated”.
“The metaphor of the marketplace is very appropriate for our times too,” he added. “[U]nfortunately even affection and dignity are bought and sold, in the attempt to earn something” with the “risk [of] selling ourselves to the first bidder.”
In the parable by the evangelist Matthew, there is a character who has an “unusual behavior”: the owner of the vineyard. He personally goes to look for workers.
“Evidently, he wants to establish a personal relationship with them,” said the pontiff. He goes “and look for those who are waiting to give meaning to their lives.”
So, at five o'clock, he also meets those workers who had “given up all hope. [. . .] And yet, even when it seems we are able to do little in life, it is always worthwhile. There is always the possibility to find meaning, because God loves our life.”
The master’s “originality” also emerges at pay time, at the end of the day. He had, in fact, agreed with the workers of the morning for a denarius. He told the others that he would give “what is fair.”
“[I]t is right here that the parable provokes us: what is fair? For the owner of the vineyard, that is, for God, it is just that each person has what he needs to live,” the pope explained. “He called the labourers personally, he knows their dignity, and on the basis of this, he wants to pay them, and he gives all of them one denarius.”
The workers from the “first hour” are predictably disappointed, because they are unable to recognise the “beauty” in the master’s gesture. He “was not unjust, but simply generous; who looked not only at merit, but also at need. God wants to give his Kingdom, that is, full, eternal and happy life, to everyone,” Leo XIV said.
“And this is what Jesus does with us: he does not establish rankings, he gives all of himself”.
On the temptation to “work” late, since the reward would be the same, the pope quoted Saint Augustine: “Take heed then lest peradventure what he is to give thee by promise, thou take from thyself by delay.”
Lastly, turning to young people, Leo urged them “not [to] delay, roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous and you will not be disappointed!”
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