I am reminded in the readings this Sunday that God’s ways are not our ways.  Growing up I remember listening to this week’s Gospel and thinking it wasn’t fair that the laborers who only worked a few hours received the same wage as those who worked a full day.  Where was the justice?  Reflecting on this now I realize how generous and merciful God is. 

I was a nominal Catholic for a time.  For me faith was about checking off the boxes:  pray the rosary, go to Sunday Mass and Holy days of obligation, etc.  Essentially my actions were fear based: fear of the Lord and fear of going to hell.  My view of God was that I had to appease Him.  I had to “earn my keep” by doing the things on my checklist.  My life was in silos.  I had my faith life, work life, personal life… 

Now I have a relationship with the Lord and this relationship permeates my life.  My life is now integrated.  I know in my heart I am a beloved child of God.  He loved me into existence and continues to sustain me.  Made in His image and likeness, I have free will.  God respects my choices (even the fear-based ones).  He has always been faithful to me, even when I wasn’t faithful.  He respects the stages of my journey in faith.  In the first reading we see the Lord’s ways are not our ways, and in the Gospel how generous and merciful the Kingdom of Heaven is.   I am one of the ‘late laborers’ and have benefited from His generosity and mercy.  Thank God for His ways!