Ready or not, here they come!

These words floated through my mind frequently as the first day of school approached. I didn’t feel quite ready, as schedules still needed tweaking, orders needed to be received, and details tightened up.

But, ready or not, on September first, the students came with big smiles, energy, and excitement.  And as always, it has been good, very good.  Teachers are teaching, learners are learning, prayers are being said, and community is being built.

The gospel last weekend (Matthew 20:1-16) was one of the more bewildering parables in scripture, but it reminded me of school.

The landowner hires laborers to work in his fields.  Some workers are hired first thing in the morning, more are hired later in the day, and some are even hired just before the working day ends.  The landowner and the laborers agree on a fair day’s wage, the “usual” wage according to the scripture. When the day ends the laborers are paid beginning with the last hired.  Surprisingly, the landowner pays them the full day’s wage for only an hour of work.  This causes the first workers who “bore the day’s burden and the heat” to expect to be paid more than they originally agreed to.  When they receive the usual day’s wage, they are indignant, in effect crying, “It’s not fair!”

The landowner points out that he has not cheated them.  They were paid fairly, as agreed upon.  Rather, he chose to be merciful and generous to the last hired – an obvious parallel to God’s mercy and generosity with us.

This parable speaks to our humanity on so many levels.  First, comparing their wages resulted in the full day workers falsely believing that they had been cheated. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”  We are so tempted to measure ourselves against others, which creates a false paradigm. Our worth is entirely unique to us.

Reflecting on the possible reasons that may have caused the landowner to be so generous leads to some interesting considerations.  Did he notice that the late day workers weren’t hired earlier in the day because they were physically weaker? Or perhaps sickly? Or disadvantaged in some other way? Did the landowner somehow know that these workers were in dire need and he chose to bless them in their need?

Here is where this parable reminds me of school.  I have said before in the newsletter, that “fair” doesn’t mean that everyone gets the same thing.  Fair means everyone gets what they need.

I believe this is what happened in the parable.

I know this is what happens at Mount Royal Academy.  And this is where we shine.  We are able to really know our students and see them as individuals, unique and unrepeatable.  We see their strengths and challenges and do our best to meet them where they are and provide what they need.  It is only fair.

Ready or not, here begins the new school year!  May it be enriching, joyful, and blessed.
– Mrs. Lisa Sweet, Academic Dean