Daily Readings - Sun Sep 24 2017
Philippians
20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Matthew
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'5So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'7They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.10Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.11And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,12saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'13But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'16So the last will be first, and the first last."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on trust in God’s plan and the nature of divine generosity. The Second Reading from Philippians reveals Paul’s deep trust in God’s will, whether through life or death. Paul is torn between the desire to be with Christ and the commitment to serve the Philippians, yet he remains steadfast, urging them to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel. His trust in God’s plan is unwavering, a testament to his faith.
The Gospel from Matthew presents the parable of the workers in the vineyard, where the landowner’s generosity challenges conventional notions of merit and reward. Despite varying hours of work, all workers receive the same pay, illustrating God’s boundless grace. This parable invites us to reflect on our own attitudes towards fairness and generosity, encouraging humility and recognition of God’s sovereign will.
These readings remind us to trust in God’s plan and embrace His generosity with humility. Just as Paul trusted in God’s will, we too can find peace in surrendering to His plan. The parable teaches us that our worth is not measured by earthly standards but by God’s grace. Let us approach life with humility, trusting in His generosity and living in accordance with the Gospel values of love and service.