Impulses for the Way·28 of 33

The Last Shall Be First

The Parable of the Workers shows us the goal is not tallying hours walked or hardships faced but about the joy of the journey and the generosity of Jesus.

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Matthew 20:1-16

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked. ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’ The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Berean Standard Bible

Public Domain

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Transcript

English
I've been walking for almost a month now, and my legs are held together by sheer willpower, blister tape, and perhaps a little divine intervention. My backpack feels lighter. Maybe I finally let go of unnecessary weight. Or maybe I've just eaten all my snacks. Either way, I've earned every step. But today, something has shifted. The Camino feels busier, new faces, fresh gear, pristine shoes, and wide-eyed excitement flood the path. I smiled genuinely, but there's a tiny voice inside whispering. You're just joining now. Where were you back on day nine when I cried over my cold che, it reminds me of Jesus' parable of the workers, those who clocked in at the last hour and still got a full day's wage. Let's be honest, my first instinct is to clutch my metaphorical paycheck and grumble. But I've been here the whole time, Lord. Surely I deserve a little bonus blister badge. And yet I realize the point isn't about hours walked, but about the joy of the journey. And even more importantly, the generosity of the one who called us. Whether we arrived at St. John or Saria, whether we've been limping for weeks or just all laced up, we're recipients of the same gift, the boundless goodness of God. So today I'll raise my che to the newcomers. The Camino is more vibrant because they're here. And isn't that just like God to throw a party for everyone, no matter how late they arrive? The kingdom of Jesus is an upside down kingdom. Where gifts are lavished on the undeserving and where the first will be last and the last will be first, welcome pilgrims to this sacred path where your journey begins. May your steps be hopeful, your path, gentle and your burden light. May you find strength through the day, peace through the night, and joy in every step you take as you walk this sacred road. May the grace of Jesus fill each moment and your heart be full and free.
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