“So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

In the parable of the vineyard, Jesus portrays His heavenly father as an extravagant employer, ready to treat all who labor in His field equally, regardless of when they answer His call or how hard they work.

This parable is jarring in its implications because the story line runs counter to the economic model of a market-driven, capitalistic system. A vineyard owner with an eye on the bottom line would have bargained hard and paid less to the late hires. By our economic standards, it doesn’t seem fair. Then, again, economics has been called “the dismal science.”

The shortcomings of capitalism have been writ large in recent years in one case of corporate greed after another. Names like Tyco, Enron, Adelphia, Qwest and Global Crossings leap to mind. A number of prominent executives have been guilty of back dating stock option grants to guarantee themselves hefty bonuses. Incredibly, in some cases, the Board of Directors, “charged with protecting stockholders’ interests,” actually promoted this scheme.

Then there is Bernie Madoff and the other Wall Street mavens of malfeasance, whose greed has known no bounds.

I wonder what Jesus would say about today’s CEOs.

While they enrich themselves, workers at the lower half of the pay scale fall further and further behind. Half of all workers bring home less than $25,000 after taxes or less than what many CEOs make in one week. The disparity is far greater for those who earn the  minimum wage.

Those who argue for capping labor rates claim that American workers must remain competitive in a global economy. But that logic doesn’t seem to apply to the occupants of the executive suite whose total compensation is greater than that of their peers in other countries.

I’m no economist, but I know  the average household’s credit card balance tops $10,000 at double digit interest rates. Foreclosures are at record highs, too.

I’m no economist, but I know that poverty contributes to crime, violence, hunger, disease and ignorance.

I’m no economist, but I know what Jesus said: “Whatsoever is right I will give you.”

The highly compensated executives make an easy target. But, in reality, we are all employers to some degree. Each time we tip a waitress, a hairdresser or garbage hauler; each time we hire someone to mow our lawn or paint our home; each time we contribute to church and to the support of its dedicated staff, we have an opportunity to live out today’s Gospel theme of generosity.  

I’m no economist, but I do know that in the end, “the last will be first and the first last.”