Daily Readings - Wed Aug 23 2023
Judges
6Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem7When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: "Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you8The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.9And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?10And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.11And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?12And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.13And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?14And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.15And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
Matthew
1"The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard2Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace4And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.5So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly6Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?7They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.8And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.9And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius10Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius11And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family12saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.13But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius14Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you15And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?16So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of leadership, judgment, and God’s generosity. In the first reading from Judges, Jotham’s parable of the trees warns against the dangers of seeking power for selfish reasons. The trees, symbolizing different kinds of leaders, are reluctant to give up their gifts to serve others. Only the bramble, the least noble of the trees, accepts the role of king, but it does so with a warning: those who refuse to rest in its shadow will be consumed by fire. This parable reminds us that true leadership is not about personal gain but about serving others, and that those who lead must do so with humility and justice.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, challenging our human notions of fairness and merit. The workers who toil all day resent the generosity of the landowner, who pays the latecomers the same wage as those who bore the heat. This parable is not about economics but about the kingdom of heaven, where God’s grace is not limited by our efforts or timing. It teaches us to trust in God’s justice and to avoid envy or resentment toward others. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last, not because of their worthiness, but because God’s love is boundless and unpredictable.
These readings call us to examine our own attitudes toward leadership and grace. Do we lead with humility and generosity, or do we seek power for its own sake? Do we trust in God’s providence, even when it seems unfair by human standards? Let us ask for the grace to embrace humility, to serve others without expectation of reward, and to rejoice in the generosity of God, who calls everyone to His kingdom, regardless of when they respond.