Scripture Study for

The reading from Isaiah suggests that even after the Babylonian  exile had ended, Israel (or some of it) still struggled to be faithful to  God. While there are no limits to the mercy of God, who is generous in  forgiving, that forgiveness must be sought through repentance. God does  respond to evil and one must not delay in repenting. Thus the insistence  that one must “seek the Lord while he may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). Yet  hope lies in the fact that God does not calculate forgiveness as we do.  As merciful as sinful human beings are capable of being, God is more  merciful. And in situations that human beings would find completely  unforgivable, God’s forgiveness for those who repent is unbounded. 

Paul is writing to the Philippians from prison, stating that his  imprisonment and suffering have “turned out rather to advance the  gospel” (1:12). His fervent hope is that no matter what happens,  Christ will continue to be glorified in him. He would like to die,  so that he can be with Christ (and end his suffering). On the other  hand, if he lives he will be able to spread the gospel, teach, and  support other Christians. He has learned to be content either way.  The exhortation to conduct themselves in a way worthy of the gospel  leads into the next section of the letter, in which he will address some  divisions within the community. 

Contemporary audiences of the parable of the workers sometimes  fail to notice that those who did not work until the end of the day  had not deliberately avoided labor; no one had hired them. All of the  workers in this parable lead a precarious existence, not knowing from  day to day if they will make any money to feed their families. The owner  of the vineyard, in paying all of the workers a day’s wage, is paying  them not according to how much they have worked, but according to  how much they need. The parable emphasizes the generosity of God’s  kingdom, in which everyone’s needs are met, regardless of their ability  or good fortune. God cares more about mercy than fairness.