What My Life Experience Teaches Me About the Parable of the Laborers and the Prodigal Son

[RepetantCatholic]

I wanted to share how I personally about the parable of the laborers and the parable of the prodigal son.

The Parable of the Laborer

In the parable of the laborers at three different times throughout a day laborers are asked to work. There are those who start work at dawn, then there are those who start work late in the day working much less than the previous. In the end, the Land Lord pays them all equally regardless of the time they have worked based on the original contract made with everyone. Well, those that woke up early and have been working all day get upset and complain about those who have worked less but earn equal pay. The response of the Lord is,

13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

My Experience

A lot of people will look at the unfairness of the situation and be puzzled by this reading. Well, from life experience the laborers who are called on in the morning have it the best. I would liken these to Christians of all denominations who at a very young age begin to follow Christ and his teachings and whose life is unerring. Again, in terms of the laborers, they already are in the vineyard, they know the work is hard, they are willing to work it, and they know with certainty they will be paid for their work. So, again, as a Christian it is better to be called early.

But realistically, for most of us, me included we are only called later in life. I feel I was called at twenty seven. Before then while I did attend mass and did help others, all the while following some small semblance of Faith, I know from 21-27 I sinned. I lapsed. I really wasn’t living my Faith. But while I don’t know if I am saved, I consider myself lucky that got sense at 27, now 38.

Others have graver circumstances, where there upbringing and their life circumstances may lead them down a tenuous path in life where they may not consider Faith until their golden years. Again, as a 38 year old I look with awe and envy at those Christian Families who have everything down and are able to live a Christian life at a young age with no lapses like their early twenties. How much must that centennial envy those of us who get it in our twenties?

The reality is, unless you are the laborer who worked at dawn under the original contract where you know payment is guaranteed, every laborer that comes throughout the day and later into the evening does not know what they will be paid. There is no original contract with them.

 

[RepetantCatholic]

The blessing is that the Christ teaches us to have hope, if we are called and work our labor at any point in life then the compensation will be equal to those who know no sin. How much do we love and envy those laborers who didn’t wait all day with anxiety before they are called and after they are called. We know they will be paid, but the rest of us it is never certain. So, of course the righteous (the Christian who understood early and had all circumstances right for them not to sin) should never look at us, the Repentant Sinner, with envy for we pay the rest of our life hoping we will be good enough.

With the parable comes that assurance “you are good enough.” God’s generosity knows no bounds. And as for the First Shall be the Last and the Last shall be the First. I know from experience the life of sin, is to place yourself first before all instead of last before all. So, of course, the righteous must always have humility, love and grace and be thankful look on at the rest of us with humility; we weren’t so lucky to be called so young with the right circumstances.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Again, another one where it seems the righteous is punished while the sinner gets his fill. No, no, no. My life experience once again says you want to be righteous and righteous early; there is nothing to envy of the man who enters the world with wealth only to return home with nothing. Once again, sin all sin is not good. The world is sin and sin is portrayed on television and other media as being the natural course of things. Sin is even portrayed as fun. Not at all. For the man, like myself, who has entered the world and sinned, oh how much we envy the son who knew not to enter the world. Again, the righteous have no need to envy the Repentant Sinner as someone who did everything and got away with it.

Not at all. Sin will harm you, the world is the Devil’s playground, and the fact you even make it home is a miracle. Once again, God gives us the loving message: all he wants for you is to come home. Once again, the righteous are at the advantage. The sinner gained nothing from their sin and could have harmed themselves in a lost world. So, once again, the righteous have the best of it all they have to work on is perspective, charity, love at the sinner who left God’s path for a false path that no matter how fun the media makes it look is not fun and not in our best interest.

Thoughts?

Once again the lesson is for both the righteous and for the sinner. Coming early and devout without fail is best. Coming late with some worldly knowledge comes with it pain and a life of repentance. The latter should envy the former and teach them, “no you do not want to be of this world. All that stuff on TV is fake.” While also telling others, “I came late, but with God all things are possible so long as you are willing to repent.” The Righteous may know little of either, which is a good thing. The lesson for them, is the position of the Repentant is not enviable or easy.

 

[Kei]

It really isn’t unfair–they get their wages!
It’s just that the Employer is very generous to the other workers!

I find it so touching how the prodigal son just ran out of money and needed food. But even so, the father ran to him and prepared a great feast!

 

[RepetantCatholic]

Thanks kei, I got your message but I don’t.like replying to messages. So, I’ll answer here. I can no longer listen to the Beatles or Led Zeppelin or Jimi Hendrix nor rap or Hip Hop nor even Pop. I don’t watch television, not even cable news. I acknowledge these people are geniuses and their works are monumental and worthy of praise, but I feel their salvation is in doubt. I would be a hypocrite we’re I to listen to their music although I admit I love it.

What I do instead, is learn piano, which I’ll eventually take formal lessons in. For right now I’m self taught, but I’m not new to music I was in advanced winds playing Clarinet as first chair. Eventually I want to learn drums. So, I make my own music.

I am disabled and stopped working at thirty, but now as I’m recovering I hope to do the right kind of volunteer work either with our local Catholic Charities or with our local parish.

But, again, while I don’t miss television or movies I do miss music. But again I don’t regret not listening to it, I just know it’s the right thing to do.

I fudge the rules a little bit with video games. I play a game called Magic The Gathering and another called Yugioh. But again, I’ve asked Catholics before if this is fine and all have said yes. I’m really tempted to play a game called Elder Scrolls Online or Fallout 76 but the themes are too dark. I wouldn’t play a game like Grand Theft Auto Online.

The only radio show I listen to is Coast to Coast. It’s a paranormal nightly program that is very famous and has been around for along time. George Noorey is a Christian and the best shows are when he has Evangelicals in to talk about End Times Prophecy. I don’t necessarily believe in end times but most of the time the discussion involves different aspects of the Bible.

So, all in all, I am.grateful and have no complaints but I can’t be naive and knowing the lyrics and the lifestyles and even their own sentiments, I can’t condone a lot of old music I listened to.

 

[Kei]

Interesting. I believe what one partakes is a matter of conscience and can be personal, so long as something is at least morally neutral. If it doesn’t have any bad effects on you, then that’s one thing. But if it does have bad effects, and you know you shouldn’t do it, that’s another. God bless.