The Last Will Be First 落后的将要领先
Today's Gospel teaches us the paradox of God's generosity: The last will be first, and the first will be last. May we grow in gratitude rather than resentment, in faithfulness rather than rivalry. We invite you to read the latest reflection from Fr. Joseph Ruan, included below in Chinese and then in English:
Scripture Reflection in Chinese
常年期第二十五主日（甲年）
今天是常年期第二十五主日，今天的福音借着葡萄园工人的比喻，邀请我们省察自己怎样理解公平，也学习天主怎样看待人。清晨进入葡萄园的工人，劳苦受热了一整天；傍晚才来的人，只工作了一个小时，最后却领到同样的工资。先来的工人便抱怨说：“这些最后雇来的人，只工作了一个小时，你竟把他们与我们这整天劳苦受热的，一样看待。”（玛20:12）如果我们是先来的工人，也许同样意难平：付出不同，为什么所得一样？
现代社会讲究按劳分配，也常按工作的成果决定酬劳。付出更多劳动、承担更大责任、创造更多价值，通常应当得到相应的回报。这合乎常理，因为劳动值得尊重，辛苦不应被轻视。不过，按工时计算与按成果计算，也未必得出相同的报酬。人的公平需要考虑不同因素，不能只凭一把尺子。尤其需要了解：工作成果可以作为计酬的依据，却不能用来衡量一个人的全部价值。有人能力强、机会多，容易有所成就；有人同样尽心，却因疾病、年老或缺少机会，成果有限，加上男女有别。若只看产出，不问处境，就容易以偏概全。
福音中，最后受雇的人说：“因为没有人雇我们。”（玛20:7）他们并非好逸恶劳，也并非故意拖延。先来的工人看见他们只工作了一小时，家主却看见他需要养家糊口。我们容易从一个人的表现判断人，天主却认识人的整个生命，包括我们看不见的困难与挣扎。家主从清晨到傍晚，多次出去寻找工人，正让我们体会这份关怀。人有时急于论资排辈，天主却不断向人发出邀请；人容易根据过去下定论，天主仍为愿意回应的人打开大门。
那么，天主的慷慨是否有失公义？家主说：“朋友！我并没有亏负你，你不是和我议定了一个银币吗？”（玛20:13）他信守承诺，没有扣减先来者应得的工资；随后又说：“我愿意给这最后来的和给你的一样多。”（玛20:14）这份额外的给予，由家主自己承担。在这个比喻中，他既向先来者守信，也向后来者施恩。天主的公平包含祂对人的信实，祂的慷慨没有以亏待别人为代价。因此，这个比喻不能直接成为现实中的工资制度，更不能用来要求受亏待的人保持沉默。应付的工资、应负的责任，必须认真履行；关怀有需要的人，也不能成为侵害他人权益的借口。
先来工人的困扰在于：原先接受的工资，因为别人得到同样的数目，忽然变得难以接受。自己所得虽没有减少，心中的尺度却改变了。我们也可能如此：起初盼望辛苦得到肯定，后来却需要别人少得一些，才觉得心里平衡。别人受称赞，我们便耿耿于怀；别人有机会，我们便觉得自己吃亏。家主问：“还是因为我心好，你就嫉妒吗？”（玛20:15）这句话值得反复省察：我们所追求的公平，是让每个人得到应有的尊重，还是自己必须高人一等？据理力争合理待遇，与嫉妒别人蒙恩，需要分辨清楚。
这份分辨也适用于信仰生活。我们若把计酬的方式带进与天主的关系，就容易认为：自己进堂多年、奉献不少，理应比后来者得到更多的爱。然而，天主的恩典并不按工时计价。早日认识天主，包含多年的奉献，也包含多年受到圣言滋养、在软弱中得到扶持。应该饮水思源，我们记得自己为天主做了什么，也要记得天主怎样陪伴我们走到今天。答唱咏说：“上主亲近所有呼求他的人，所有诚心诚意呼求他的人。”（咏145:18）一个刚刚回头的人，同样可以诚心呼求上主；他得到宽恕，并没有减少我们所领受的恩宠。
第一篇读经说：“因为我的思念不是你们的思念，你们的道路也不是我的道路。”（依55:8）这句话的前文，正是邀请罪人归向天主：“他该归附上主，上主必会怜悯他；他该归附我们的天主，因为他富于仁慈。”（依55:7）天主道路的高远，在这里显露为宽恕的丰厚。人可能认定某个人已经无可救药，天主却仍呼唤他改过自新。不过，仁慈也要求回应。先知说：“罪人应离开自己的道路，恶人该抛弃自己的思念。”（依55:7）后来受雇的人，也确实进入葡萄园工作。我们既不应因过去的失败而灰心，也不应把悔改一拖再拖。
第二篇读经中的保禄，为我们指出奉献的方向。他说：“因为对我来说，基督就是生命，死亡就是获益。”（斐1:21）他渴望与基督在一起，也顾念信友的需要：“但是我活在世上，为你们却更重要。”（斐1:24）他衡量劳苦的意义，关心基督是否受到光荣，弟兄姊妹是否得到益处。这样的心，使人愿意成人之美。我们服务团体、陪伴信友，若看见别人因此成长，就能认出自己付出的果实，不必处处比较谁更受重视。
耶稣最后说：“这样，落后的将要领先，领先的反而落后。”（玛20:16a）这提醒我们，信仰资历不能成为居功自傲的凭据。身在葡萄园中，还要学习园主的心意。多年默默服务的人，应当得到感谢与嘉奖；刚刚来到教会的人，也需要欢迎与陪伴。推己及人，我们能够珍惜自己的辛苦，也体谅别人的处境；能够坚持公义，并愿意慷慨相助。少一些斤斤计较，多一些感恩与宽厚，在忠信中成长，在奉献中体会喜乐，也为每一个回应天主召叫的人真诚祝福。
Scripture Reflection in English
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Today we celebrate Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today’s Gospel invites us to examine our understanding of fairness and to learn how God sees people. The laborers hired at dawn work through the burden and heat of the day. Those hired toward evening work only one hour, yet receive the same wage. The first workers complain: “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day's burden and the heat.” (Mt 20:12) If we were in their place, we might feel the same resentment. Why should different amounts of work receive the same reward?
Modern society generally links pay to work performed or results achieved. Greater effort, heavier responsibility, and higher productivity normally deserve greater compensation. This is reasonable: work deserves respect, and effort should not be taken for granted. Yet paying by hours and paying by results can produce different outcomes. Fairness requires careful judgment. Above all, a person’s output may help determine their wages, but it cannot measure their entire worth. Some people have strong abilities and abundant opportunities. Others work just as faithfully but face illness, age, limited opportunities, or discrimination. If we judge only by results, we risk overlooking the person.
In the Gospel, the last workers explain why they are still waiting: “Because no one has hired us.” (Mt 20:7) The passage gives us no reason to assume that they were lazy or deliberately avoiding work. The first workers notice how little these men have done; the landowner notices that they have been left without employment. We can imagine their concern about providing for themselves and their households. We often judge people by what is visible, while God knows their whole lives, including struggles hidden from us. The landowner’s repeated journeys into the marketplace reveal his concern. Even as the day draws to a close, he continues to invite people into his vineyard.
Does this generosity come at the expense of justice? The landowner replies: “My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?” (Mt 20:13) He has kept his promise and withheld nothing owed to the first workers. He then asks: “What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?” (Mt 20:14) The additional gift comes from his own resources. He honors his agreement with the first workers and treats the last with generosity. God’s justice includes faithfulness to his promises; his generosity does not require cheating anyone. This parable should therefore never become an excuse for unfair wages or for silencing those who suffer injustice. Wages owed must be paid, responsibilities fulfilled, and workers treated with dignity. Charity toward some cannot justify mistreatment of others.
The first workers’ difficulty is that a wage they had accepted now seems insufficient because others receive the same amount. Their pay has not changed; their measure of fairness has. We can recognize this tendency in ourselves. We begin by wanting our efforts appreciated, but gradually we may need someone else to receive less before we feel satisfied. Another person’s praise becomes our grievance. Another person’s opportunity feels like our loss. The landowner asks: “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:15) His question invites an honest examination of conscience. Do we want everyone to receive proper respect, or do we need to stand above others? Defending our legitimate rights and resenting another person’s blessings are different things.
This distinction matters in our life of faith. If we approach God as though we were negotiating payment, we may assume that years of worship and service entitle us to more love than someone who has only recently returned. Yet grace cannot be calculated by the hour. Knowing God from an early age means years of commitment, but it means years of being nourished by his word and sustained in weakness. Gratitude asks us to remember the source of what we have received. Alongside what we have done for God, we should recall how God has carried us. Today’s psalm says: “The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.” (Ps 145:18) Someone returning today can call upon him sincerely. The mercy they receive takes nothing away from the grace already given to us.
The first reading declares: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” (Is 55:8) These words follow an invitation to repentance: “let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.” (Is 55:7) Here, the greatness of God’s ways is revealed in the abundance of his forgiveness. We may decide that someone is beyond hope; God continues to call that person to a new beginning. His mercy calls for a response: “Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts.” (Is 55:7) The workers hired late accept the invitation and enter the vineyard. Past failure need not lead to despair, and present mercy should never become an excuse to postpone repentance.
In the second reading, Saint Paul shows us how to understand the purpose of our labor. He says: “For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.” (Phil 1:21) He longs to be with Christ, yet remains concerned for the community: “Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.” (Phil 1:24) He measures his labor by whether Christ is glorified and others are helped. Such a heart can rejoice in another person’s growth. When our service helps someone deepen their faith or find the courage to return, we can recognize the fruit of our efforts. We do not have to keep comparing who receives more attention.
Jesus concludes: “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Mt 20:16a) Years of faithfulness should never become grounds for claiming superiority. Being in the vineyard means continuing to learn the heart of its owner. Those who have served quietly for years deserve gratitude and support; those just arriving need welcome and companionship. We can value our own efforts while remaining attentive to another person’s circumstances. We can uphold justice and give generously. May we grow in gratitude rather than resentment, in faithfulness rather than rivalry, and in the joy of welcoming every person who answers God’s call.
Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church.
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