Daily Reflection – 8/21/19
Sacred Scripture
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”( Matthew 20: 1-16)
Reflection
Jesus was using this story to make hos disciples aware that He wants all mankind to taste the sweetness of heaven. In Revelation, we are told …..“Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Today this includes us all, no matter how late in the day we come to Him to accept His gift of salvation. The lame, the sick, and even the dying will be welcomed, and those of us who have given our lives to Him should feel pure and unselfish joy when a new soul comes to faith.
Many of us do not take into consideration the sovereign love that God has for us all. He patiently waits for all to come to Him, even to the last minute. What seems unfair to some takes away the point that Jesus was making. He was telling us He wants even the lowly to come and live in His kingdom. ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) We are inheritors of these plans if we choose to come forward in faith.
Why be envious because God is generous?’ It is not always easy to understand the ways of God. In this Gospel parable we see the workers failing to understand why those who worked just one hour received the same wages as those who worked all day. It reminds us of our futile attempts to understand why some people seemingly have been dealt a better hand than others going through life. Why does God apparently give more blessings to some than to others? We approach this question from our own light but the answer lies elsewhere. There is another way I would like to look at this; God has a perfect plan for your life. If others have more than you it does not mean that God loves you less. God loves each of us specially. God is our friend and is not unjust to us. Think of parents and children. Parents have a different relationship with each child but love each child. God deals differently with each of us because God loves each of us in the way that God knows best for us and His kingdom. The attitude to have is one of trust in God.”
Prayer of The Day
God our Father, may we love you in all things and above all things and reach the joy you have prepared for us beyond all our imagining. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Daily Note
God is the one who will judge in fairness and truth. We do not have the right to judge others and yet we do it all the time! Most of us have been gifted with abundant blessings. Today may we give thanks for the gifts and graces that we have received and let us thank God for the many gifts we have been given! May we let go of judgment, envy, and jealousy. If we choose to do this, we will be happier and more peaceful.
