The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Deva Savariyappan, SVD – Philippine Northern SVD Province
Wednesday 20th Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus asks in today’s Gospel: “Are you envious because I am generous?” (Matthew 20:15).
Generosity means rejoicing in the success and good fortune of others. The blessings they receive reveal God’s goodness. If God has chosen to bless them, then love demands that we rejoice with them and for them. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
Envy, on the other hand, is a spiritual sickness. It restricts the heart so that it cannot rejoice in the good of others. Envy desires others to remain mediocre, sets us against one another, and often leads to gossip and hatred. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16).
In the parable of the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16), the generous landowner is confronted by envious workers who accuse him of being unfair because he paid the last ones, who worked only one hour, the same as those who bore the day’s burden.
The purpose of this parable is to emphasize that God is compassionate, merciful, and generous. His ways are beyond human calculation of fairness: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
God’s blessings are not given because we merit them, but because they are His free gift. Even the latecomers—the good thief who repented at the last moment (Luke 23:43)—receive the Kingdom.
- Go beyond justice — Are we willing to share with those who are marginal, unfortunate, and abandoned, even when it feels “unfair”?
- Thank God for blessings — Do we thank God for all we are and have, or do we feel envious of those who seem more gifted?
- Embrace God’s generosity — Can we accept that His love is not measured by merit but poured out freely?
“Lord, free my heart from envy. Teach me to rejoice in the blessings of others, to trust in Your generosity, and to live with gratitude for all You have given me. May I learn to go beyond justice and embrace Your mercy.”
