We have all heard the phrase, “timing is everything.” This holds true perhaps for a comedy routine or the West Coast Offense.
Then we might hear, “better late than never.” And that might hold true in other situations.
But how do these nuggets of human wisdom measure up in matters of faith? In the Christian life, does being an early bird or a sleepyhead make any difference?
On one hand, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard would seem to indicate that timing is not everything. In fact, it counts for nothing. The landowner in the parable hires laborers for his vineyard at different hours — at dawn, midmorning, midday, midafternoon and evening. At the end of the day, however, he pays each of them the same: one denarius.
Now if we think that this payment is just, then we miss the point of the parable completely. In an earthly reckoning of wages, it is a travesty. Our Lord deliberately gives a shocking end to the parable to teach that we cannot measure God’s mercy by human, worldly standards. In worldly terms, one denarius for each laborer is unjust because some had worked longer than others. But in divine terms, the denarius — that is, salvation — is extended to all, however early or late they may arrive. Because in God’s mercy, both early birds and sleepyheads can receive salvation.
In this regard, timing is not everything and late is better than never. This brings great consolation and hope. It means that even those who turn to the Lord at the last possible moment can be saved. It affords hope for the atheist at the point of death or the fallen away Catholic facing terminal illness. Our Lord teaches this also by example, when from the cross He promises to the Good Thief: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43). With this in mind, we dare not stop our prayers for those who have strayed from the Faith or not yet answered the Lord’s call. If they turn to Him late — even at their last breath — they too can receive that denarius, eternal life.
At the same time, the landowner in the parable clearly would have preferred a timelier arrival of laborers. His second, third and fourth trips to the marketplace found men “standing idle” (Mt 20:3). Upon his evening trip he gives them something of a scolding: “Why do you stand here idle all day?” (Mt 20:6) “Idle” is not an indifferent description. It indicates that they failed or neglected to do something that they should have done. There was work for them to do, work that needed doing — yet they remained idle.
Clearly, Our Lord does not want us to be idle — to delay or procrastinate — about answering His call and entering into His service. In this regard, timing is everything and delay could mean that death catches us unaware. Thus Scripture contains many exhortations to conversion and holiness because “the time is short” (1 Cor 7:29; cf. Lk 21:34-36).
As regards our prompt response, two details of the parable merit mention. First, the landowner finds the laborers in the marketplace, i.e. in the midst of the world. And that is where the Lord seeks us as well, nudging us to serve Him where we are, to attend to the duty of the moment, to offer the task before us for His glory.
Second, the hours of the landowner’s visits correspond to the traditional times of prayer in the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours. So in the landowner’s recruitment visits we can see an image of God inviting us to pray at certain times throughout the day.
Thus, according to God’s mercy, it is “better late than never.” But we should not use Our Lord’s mercy toward latecomers as an excuse for delay or procrastination. After all, we never know whether we will arrive late — or not at all. So in another way, “timing is everything” because it displays a heart attentive and responsive to the Lord’s coming.
