Though they are very different personalities and come from different backgrounds, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis share much in common, especially a common joy in the Gospel, a joy which must courageously and pro-actively share with all humankind for the salvation, the peace and happiness, of the world.

Recently I had the pleasure of hearing a university professor share in an informal way the results of research he had done into the psychology of happiness. He found that the people who knew how to be grateful were the happiest, almost as if happiness were equal to gratitude, the ability to say "Thanks".

The parable which Jesus tells in today's Gospel reading is often a puzzling one for readers especially for those who are concerned with social justice. Not every detail in a parable necessarily belongs to the central message of the parable. Moreover, we can generally apply the central message to many normal and different situations in life.

In light of the above reflection, I would suggest that gratitude for a salary earned unexpectedly and some happiness at the good fortune of other unfortunate people might be one lesson to learn from the parable.