I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest, Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear, A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.
( from the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer)
The first reading from Judges talks about King Abimelech who was a tyrant. He killed seventy of Jotham’s brothers on a millstone to become King. Jotham escaped by the grace of God. Later in this chapter Abimelech was mortally wounded by a similar millstone. He reaped what he sowed. The fruits of his tree was innocent blood and death.
Trees not only had a purpose but symbolism. The olive tree was used to anoint kings as well as the sick. The fig tree had sweet fruit and would have to give up its sweetness if it would be king. Jotham used trees as a metaphor as a plea for justice for his family. Jotham’s plea to God took three years to come to come to conclusion but a just God heard his plea.
Abimelech was not a generous leader. He was cruel and corrupt and very far from a just king.
This reading compares the evil king of the first reading and the generosity of the employer in our Gospel reading. The comparison is not one of just wages but it is one how do we get to eternity which is not a day’s wage but life everlasting.
My mom was a practicing Catholic all her life. Her parents were immigrants and she grew up in a huge Polish family. She was faithful all her life and yes she did sin I am sure but was a lovely kind person.
My wife’s father came from an immigrant family as well. He was in the merchant marine and during World War II made 14 North Atlantic trips, including Murmansk on an ammunition ship in convoy. Life expectancy for a sailor on an ammunition ship was only 2 or 3 trips and he survived those odds and still had the opportunity with his wife to produce the most beautiful women in the world, my wife. He was Protestant but he did not practice.
He was Baptized Catholic on his death-bed. I am sure that both of these parents are in heaven. It is not important how they got there. The important thing is that they made it. No one can always turn their life around at the last-minute of life before you die,because none of us know when that is.
The parable of the camel going through the eye of the needle ends with Matthew 19:30 ” But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” The next parable of the vineyard owner begins the next chapter and ends with Matthew 20:16 “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Both different parables with similar punch lines.
We need to pay attention when Jesus says Amen, Amen and also when two parables back-to-back of the gospel of Matthew end with the same phrase. I believe the common theme is the picture of a generous and loving God. One who knows our faults and still loves us and His door is always open to forgiveness. This is a God who wants all of us to be with Him. We should take nothing for granted, but also not give up on ourselves .God is not interested if we are first or last. He wants all of us to be in Heaven with Him. The opportunity is always there if you were hired at the beginning of the day or the last hour.
Whatever fruits you produce, God knows them and He will not give up on you.
God Bless
Readings: Judges 9:6-15; Psalm 21: 2-3, 4-5,6-7; Matthew 20: 1-16
