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 Linda Zerangue, who has ovarian cancer, and for her family.
I once heard about the "Calvinistic" way of Christianity: the more faithful you are, the more blessings you will receive. Today's reading does not support this way of thinking.
Some of the most holy people in the Bible bore some tremendous hardships. Think about St. Stephen, the first martyr, or read about the horrendous things St. Paul endured. If we based our faith in God by how many blessings we receive from Him, we fall into Satan's trap. He would love for our faith to be based on circumstances! In the midst of great blessings, we might be tempted to think that our faith walk is okay and that we don't have to improve our relationship with Him. In the midst of great trial, he may lead us down the path of thinking that we aren't good enough for God's mercy so it's better to give up.
It's also a way we can judge others: the poor must not be as holy as myself because I have been tremendously blessed!
Today, let us be mindful that God is constantly calling us to conversion no matter where we are in our faith journey, financial status, job position, etc. Take care and God Bless.
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