Which is Harder?

 One of the purposes of this blog is to pass on some of the ideas that have touched or inspired me.  We love to give what we ourselves love!  This morning I was reading The Little White Book, a daily reflection based on the writings of Bishop Ken Untener and published by Little Books of the Diocese of Saginaw.  

In reflecting on the Parable of the Landowner and the Workers, Bishop Untener writes that this is one of Jesus' parables that people don't usually like.  Our sympathies are usually with the workers who have borne the heat of the day and then received the same pay as those who have worked only an hour.  But the bishop's insight touched me:

Which is harder? To work all day, or to want a job and not get one?  It comes out about even, which is how the owner of the vineyard paid his workers.

Which is harder? To get married and deal with all the challenges and struggles of married life and raising children? Or to want to get married and get left on the sidelines?  It comes out about even, which is how the owner of the vineyard paid his workers.

Which is harder? To earn your wages by the sweat of your brow? Or to want to work but end up on welfare?  It comes out about even, which is how the owner of the vineyard paid his workers.

One reason this reflection touched me is that yesterday I heard from the workers of St. Vincent de Paul Society about people who have all these years been contributing to the charity and are now forced to come for help themselves.  It is very difficult to ask for help now, after years of being able to help others.  

The next time we hear the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, our reaction might be sympathy for those who were forced to stand all day in the marketplace hoping that someone would hire them, and a sense of profound gratitude for those who worked all day in the heat!