Matthew 20:1-16
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."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for an end to abortion.
Every human life deserves has been given a dignity from God that man cannot take away. Man can choose to love, use or reject a person, but that doesn't not define who the other person is.
When I think about today's reading, I think about how society is selective in who it chooses to love. Christ chooses to love, not chooses whom to love. The difference on paper is one word, but the difference is enormous. When I think of today's reading, I think about how we have told the one born abnormal, "you are not equal to us." I'm sure you can add a litany of persons who have had that label placed upon them.
The hope that we have is the hope of heaven and how there we will no longer look at one another thinking to ourselves, "you are not equal to me." When we are there, we will all equally give glory to The Lamb who chose to love instead instead of choosing whom to love. Take care and God Bless.
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