The Struggle to be Human
Text: Matthew 20:1-16
My grandmother once said to me: “be human first before you become a minister.” Her words have stayed with me ever since. Sometimes I wish I had asked her for clarification, but I think I know what she meant when she said those words. Having known so many ministers in her life - her husband, her youngest son, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law – my grandmother knew well that no title or status could define who a person truly was; what was in their heart and how they treated others was what mattered. Throughout my life and ministry I have searched for the meaning of being human. I am still searching for the answer. One thing I know for sure is that there is no one answer. It varies depending on someone’s culture, age, background, experience, and circumstance. So, it’s important to ask ourselves again and again what it means to be human at various stages of our lives.
Nobody can deny now how interconnected we are. The coronavirus has proved that we depend on each other, and on the natural world, more than we think we do. This changed circumstance requires not only the change of our behaviours but also the change of our hearts and minds. If we learned that we are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and religious differences, and that we are our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers, wherever they may be, we must think and act like we are. There is no going back to normal, to the way of life before the pandemic. Living as one family with the ultimate truth of our interconnected nature with everyone and everything else must be our new normal. Once again we are learning to be human in these changed and changing circumstances.
The Chinese character for human consists of two lines. When I was first introduced to this character, I learned that each line represents a person. So, the word itself shows interconnectedness, or inter-being (Thich Nhat Hanh) as our basic human nature; like Ubuntu, “I am because we are”. Without the support from the other, both lines will fall down. According to this Chinese character, to be human is to support and to be supported by another. One day while I was walking the trail, I found trees that looked exactly like the character. The trees were able to stand thanks to the support each received and gave. Looking at the picture, at first, it looks as if the tree on the right side supports the tree on the left side. Looking more closely, the tree on the left also supports the tree on the right side. No one can live just by giving, and no one can thrive just by receiving.
One thing I learned by talking to various people during the pandemic is that everyone needs something to look after. No matter how lonely we may be, we can all take part in nurturing others, like smiling, watering flowers, feeding a pet, or sending a thank you card to show our appreciation. No matter how strong we may look, we all need someone to talk to at the end of the day. Becoming human involves a lot of back and forth between reaching out and reaching in. No one can live or thrive on their own.
That’s the intent of today’s parable. This peculiar landowner is not interested in getting the work done as efficiently as possible. Otherwise, he could have hired enough people at the beginning of the day. His business principle is to make sure that no one is left behind in the marketplace standing idle. Everyone gets invited to work in the same vineyard. Chances are that they can see each other for the first time not as competitors but as coworkers sharing the same joy of being needed, and chosen. All the labourers are introduced to a new economy based on necessities – to be seen, heard and understood. This economic model acknowledges that everyone deserves the same dignity and respect. The landowner’s primary concern is not about paying according to different hours of work, but about giving everyone what they need to be successful.
The COVID-19 pandemic uncovers the deep-seated social and economic inequality in our society. We are not in this together. The poor and marginalized are more vulnerable to the impact of the virus. That’s why we, the United Church are joining other faith communities across Canada addressing the urgent need to develop and implement a Universal Basic Income program. Our Moderator wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister: “The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized our interconnectedness to one another across this country. As a church we seek to care for and uplift human dignity and spirit from birth through death.” He also urged that: “together we can take important steps to protect the health and safety of all Canadians”.
We strive to build the kind of vineyard the landowner envisioned in our time and place by ensuring basic income for everyone. In this vineyard, our work is not complete until everyone gets invited to contribute, and paid to meet their basic needs. This is the work of the spirit. Jesus never said to pray to give me this day my daily bread. Instead, we are to pray to give us this day our daily bread. The prayer can only come true when everyone takes part in giving and receiving and supporting and being supported.
I now realize that the task I was given by my grandmother is not something achievable by myself. I can only practice being human when I work with others until no one goes hungry. This endless struggle to help others’ wellbeing is how we become human beings together.