In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the labourers hired for the day.
God is not a despotic Father, but bestows his gifts entirely freely. Thus, he treats even those who arrived at the last hour with magnanimity.
These themes feature frequently in the Franciscan Sources.
Indeed, in what we call the «Writings of Francis» (mostly dictated to a friar who acted as his secretary), the Poverello’s firm adherence to the Gospel itself emerges clearly, offering every soul a favourable opportunity to serve the Lord.
And Clare was no less so!
In the Testament she left to her sisters, we read:
«But since the way and the path are narrow, and the gate through which one sets out and enters into life is narrow, few are those who travel along it and enter through it; and even if there are those who walk along it for a short while, very few persevere in it.
Blessed, however, are those to whom it is granted to walk this way and to persevere in it until the end» (FF 2850).
And in the Legend:
“ From then on she never again refused any menial task, to the extent that, for the most part, it was she who poured water over the sisters’ hands, stood to assist them whilst they sat, and served them at table whilst they ate” (FF 3180).
Indeed, those who in life have been considered the least or have made themselves the least for the sake of the Gospel will be the first in the Kingdom of God!
This is also because God wishes to give everyone the opportunity to work in his vineyard, without imposing any restrictions.
His logic is different from that of men!
«So the last will be first, and the first will be last» (Mt 20:16)
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A (Mt 20:1–16)
