Boundless Mercy

Mother Angelica, the foundress of the EWTN network, tells the story of a woman who for years prayed that her husband would be converted. When he became sick, she prayed even more fervently. Eventually they were told that he did not have long to live. Realizing that his days on earth were about to come to an end, he turned to his wife and said, “I think it’s time for you to call the priest.” Within minutes, the hospital chaplain came by, heard his confession and gave him the sacrament of the sick. He died peacefully several days later.

When Mother Angelica spoke to the woman shortly after the funeral, she could tell that she was angry. Assuming she was angry about losing her husband, she asked her if she wanted to talk about it. The woman told Mother Angelica about how she had prayed for her husband to be converted so that he would be easier to live with. But it didn’t happen until he was close to death. As she put it, “For years that man put me through hell. Now, because he went to confession, he gets to go to heaven. It just doesn’t seem fair.”

Doesn’t this woman sound like the workers in today’s gospel? She was angry because she had spent her life patiently putting up with a husband who was cranky and showed her little affection. Though he rarely went to church and never had a good thing to say about anyone, he could go to confession and have some assurance of going to heaven.

To most of us, this can seem unfair. However, it goes to show just how merciful our Heavenly Father is. No matter what sins we may have committed, God will always forgive us if we are truly sorry and confess them. And it is never too late for us to turn to Him and invite His love into our hearts. Even if we are on our death bed, Jesus still holds out the offer of forgiveness to us as He did to the good thief who was crucified beside Him. Like the vineyard owner who kept looking for workers even up to the last hour of the day, Jesus is always reaching out to sinners in hopes of breaking through their hardened hearts with the gift of His love.

If it is the case that we can get into heaven even if we convert on our death bed, then should all of us just wait until we are near death to receive Jesus’ offer of forgiveness? If it worked for the good thief, would it not also work for us?

I would suggest that it is not a good idea to wait until we are near death to convert for this simple reason. None of us knows when we will die. Some of us may be blessed with the awareness that we are close to death and with time to call a priest. However, many of us will die suddenly without warning in an accident or perhaps of a heart attack. There will be no time to call a priest and we may not be conscious enough to even say an Act of Contrition. Since none of us knows the hour when our life on earth will end, we should always be prepared to meet our Maker. That means, at a minimum, going to Mass every Sunday, practicing charity and mercy with our neighbors, praying every day and going to confession regularly.

There is another important reason why  we should not put off the decision to change our hearts and follow Jesus. By waiting, we will be missing out on all the good things God wants to give us. Those of us who give our hearts to Jesus experience great joy. Knowing that we are loved personally by an Almighty God gives us confidence as we face the challenges of life. We know that our Heavenly Father will always provide for us. Also, the hope of eternal life gives this present life tremendous meaning. We don’t ask ourselves if this is all there is. We don’t wonder why we are here or agonize over what it is all about. Rather, we rejoice knowing that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven and that nothing we suffer in this life can compare to the glory we will experience for all eternity.

As one who has been called to serve in God’s vineyard, I know this first hand. Though I am not always confident in my own abilities, I can rely on God to work through me. Though there are times I grow tired and feel frustrated, the Holy Spirit comes to encourage and console me. Nothing I have given up compares to all that I have received. Maybe in some ways I have been asked to give more than others have like the workers in the parable who were called early in the day. However, I have received so much back in return. God is never outdone in generosity. We never give Him more than He gives us in return. No matter how much we are asked to give or how long we are called to work, our Heavenly Father makes it joyful and fulfilling.

And so, I encourage you to say “yes” when Jesus comes to invite you to join Him in His work in the Father’s vineyard. Go willingly whenever He calls you, even if it seems as though you are being asked to give more than others. If you have been putting off saying “yes”, go with Him now and do not waste any more time. No longer deprive yourself of all the blessings God has prepared for you. And do not be embarrassed to say “yes” late in the day if you are called to do less than others. It is our love that gives value to our work, not how hard it is nor how long it takes. As in today’s gospel, God prefers someone who works an hour out of love to someone who works all day and ends up feeling bitter, resentful and envious. Go now, no matter what it costs, no matter how little you have to give and be happy no matter how God chooses to reward you.