GENEROSITY

I recently came across a story about a newly wedded couple who set off on their honeymoon. While travelling by car, they encountered a sudden storm while driving on a remote country road. They could go no farther, so they got out of their car and sloshed through the mud to an old farm house. The lights were on when they arrived and they were greeted by an elderly couple who was waiting for them as they knocked on the door. The old couple had seen them from their window and gladly opened the door for them.

The young man explained their problem and pleaded: “Could you please put us up for the night? Any place on the floor, a mat or something, would do just fine for us.” As he was speaking, a few grains of rice fell from the little hairpiece the bride had on. The old couple exchanged a knowing smile and said. “By all means, certainly you can stay with us. You can have the guest room.”

So the newlyweds used the guest room for the night. They arose early, not intending to disturb the old couple any further. They got dressed, and the young man left some money on the dresser. When they came out of the bedroom, much to their surprise, they saw the elderly couple still asleep, one on the couch and the other crumpled up in a chair.

The young couple then realized that this poor couple did not have a guest room, but had given them their own bedroom. They had given freely to strangers.

The parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel today might have been the inspiration for the old couple in the story because it is all about generosity. The owner of the vineyard exemplifies what generosity is all about. It is not about justice. Justice is what everyone deserves. There can not be any generosity if there is not already justice. Generosity goes beyond what someone has a right to and gives more than is deserved.

Jesus’ parable is all about God. It says to us: “This is what God is like, how God acts.” It is how God treats all of us. It has nothing to do with what we deserve or have earned. It has to do with God loving us so much that he freely gives to us what we need. It is also the way we are encouraged to act.

When Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the young people of Paris last week-end, he encouraged them to bring the Good News to others and to be witnesses of God to others. It is a message for both young and old. People are to see God in us. And so, we, too, must be like God in his generosity for all.

This supposes that we are fair and just in our dealings with other people. But we are asked to do more than that. We are encouraged to be generous with our resources, our time, and our talents