as yesterday, which is past." (Ps. lxxxix. 4.) After death every man receives his hire or wages. In the distribution of rewards, not so much regard is paid to the time employed as to fervor in working. Hence, those who come into the vineyard at the last hour, by conversion, receive as much as the first, because they are generally accustomed to labor with greater fervor and humility, and deem themselves undeserving of any reward, whilst on the contrary the others are often too confident and presumptuous.
II. Those who had been longest in the vineyard, " murmured against the master of the house, saying, these last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us that have borne the burden of the day and heats." There can of course be no murmuring in heaven, but the reward "of those who come last" will be so great that, if their state could permit, it would breed envy in those who came first. This kind of envy is unfortunately very common in this world. Examine yourself on the subject; see if your eye be not in some respect evil, because your brother is more favored than you are. Remember the expression of St. Paul, " Charity envieth not." (1 Cor. xiii. 4.)
III. The parable closes in these remarkable words "So shall the last be first, and the first last; for many are called, but few chosen." Those that were last employed in the vineyard receive the reward in consequence of their fervor. "God," says St. Gregory, "does not consider so much what is done as the affection with which it is done. Perhaps you may count many years in which you have been employed in the service of God, and not one in which you have served Him with fervor. Let it be said of you, "In a short space he fulfilled a long time." (Wis. iv. 13.)
