MATTHEW 20:1-7

Jesus said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just. So they went off. (And) he went out again around noon, and around three o'clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They answered, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You too go into my vineyard.'

Gospelthink: This is the beginning of a story of a generous person, but the point here is that they had to work to get a reward. Do I give my best in the work that I do?

"Spent 24 hours; I need more hours with you, you spent the weekend getting even. We spent the late nights making things right between us, but now it’s all good, play me close ‘cause girls like you run ‘round with guys like me ‘til sundown when I come through. I need a girl like you—girls like you love fun and me too. I need a girl like you."            

The point that Jesus wanted to make in his story of the people working in the vineyard was that no matter how much they worked, they had the possibility of gaining eternal life. But what is important in all of the situations that Jesus gave was the work that had to be done. They all had to work in the vineyard in order to receive their reward. They all received the same reward, but they all had to work for it first.

Laboring to receive a reward is part of our life. We believe strongly that a "laborer is worth his wage" as Jesus once said. There are all kinds of problems with the attitudes of people with regard to work--laziness, complaining about other workers, not enough pay for the amount of work done as in Jesus' story, but be that as it may, the bottom line is *that someone must do the work. Likewise in any relationship, romantic or otherwise, if we are to accomplish the end goal, we must work in order to get it.

The good thing about Maroon 5 and Carli B's song "Girls Like You" is that the couple was willing to work at their relationship. They had to "make things right between" them, and once that happened, then the man in the relationship could come through with loving the way he should. The key to any job that demands action from a group of people is that everyone works together to get the job done. In a romantic relationship, it is the same. Both have to be willing to give, to care, to listen, and to understand.

We live in a world where interaction between people is necessary to accomplish goals. At times, the interaction is between two lovers who are questioning whether they should live their lives together in marriage or a permanent commitment. The question can only be answered if both intend to work at it.

It should be noted that the excellent video of the song honors women leaders in our world in a special way.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we all interact with people around us, one of whom we may choose in a permanent relationship.  Help us in our different interactions to always be willing to work at making them better. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: People involved in a relationship must work at it to make it last.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Girls Like You" teach young people?
2. Gospel analysis: Jesus' story implies that we must work for eternal life. What is the best way to gain eternal life?
3. Song analysis: What are the principal ingredients of "making things right" in a love relationship?
4. What is the most common complaint when it comes to working in our world?
5. What are the ways to insure a good love relationship?
6. Do you feel that both parties in most love relationships know the importance of "working" to make the relationship real? Yes or no and why?
7. Why is there such a high percentage of marriages that do not work out?
8. In general, do you feel that women are honored enough in our world? Yes or no and why?      

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America