Enough for us all

BY KATE BLAIN
ASSISTANT EDITOR

Jesus, help me understand that you'll give me all the attention and love I need! Amen. 

"Heaven is like a farmer who hired people to work in his fields," Jesus said. "He hired some at 9 a.m., some at noon, more in the afternoon and more later. Then he paid them all the same amount. The ones who'd worked longer grumbled. 'I'm not cheating you!' the farmer said. 'I promised you a day's pay, and you're getting it. So what if I want to pay these people just as much? It's my money.'" Jesus added: "The first will be last, and the last will be first."

Little kids are great at getting attention. Being older, you know you're supposed to wait instead of interrupting adults who are talking, and that it's important to raise your hand in class instead of yelling out answers.

Little kids don't know those rules yet -- and are too young to understand rules, anyway. When they're bored or they want something, they just yell!

Some of the people in this week's Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16) act like little kids. After working on a farm all day, they're probably hot, tired and ready to take their pay and go home -- but then they find out that people who haven't worked as long are getting paid the same!

Like kids wanting attention, they protest: "That's unfair! We want more money, then!"

The farmer in the story is really God. Jesus' point in telling the story is that, like there's enough of the farmer's money to pay everyone (and he gets to decide what to pay them), there's enough of God's attention to go around.

Giving someone extra when they need it doesn't always mean other people will get less. You don't have to protest, yell or interrupt like a kid; Jesus will make sure you get your share of love!

(09/18/08)