Today’s lively discussion found its beginning (appropriately enough) in the last line of each of our passages: Many who are last will be first, and many who are first will be last. We recalled that Christ had spoken of John the Baptist as being the greatest of those born of women - “yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28). And when Peter asked about John (son of Zebedee), just after Christ had given Peter the opportunity to redeem his earlier betrayal, Christ urged Peter to focus on his own spiritual journey, rather than John’s (John 21:22).

Scripture records several times that Jesus’ disciples fell into the habit of trying to rank themselves, particularly within the kingdom Christ was intending to establish. And several times, Jesus had to remind them that they were not to use the all-too-well-known models of rank and authority.

Our passage in Mark records Christ’s statement to Peter that anyone who gives up earthly possessions and relationships will receive “a hundred times” in houses and brothers and sisters - and persecutions. Additionally, the same “anyone” will receive eternal life.

Our passage in Matthew relates the parable of day laborers who begin work at various times, including the eleventh hour (an hour before quitting time), and who all receive the same pay. We found it difficult NOT to be rankled by this story - like the disciples, we want to be recognized and ranked! But we realized that the parable may well be linked to our need for “daily bread” - the owner of the field provided the daily wage each laborer needed. And we recognized that work provides the intangible “wage” of dignity (we’re not just standing around, hoping and praying that someone will value us). And we noted that the parable may have been Christ’s way of underscoring that God’s intention was and is to offer salvation to the Gentiles, as well as to the Jews - and to those who begin their spiritual walk late in life, as well as to those who begin their walk early.

Perhaps heavenly wages are akin to the mathematical concept of infinity. God offers us an infinity of love. How could we ask for MORE?