Daily Readings - Wed Aug 17 2022
Ezekiel
1The word of the LORD came to me:2"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?3You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.4The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.5So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.6My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.7"Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:8As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep,9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:10Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.11"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.
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 two powerful lessons about leadership, justice, and God’s mercy. The first reading from Ezekiel is a prophetic rebuke to the shepherds of Israel who have failed to care for their flock. Ezekiel condemns those who prioritize their own interests over the well-being of the people, leaving the weak, the sick, and the lost to suffer. God promises to intervene, seeking out His scattered sheep and holding the shepherds accountable for their neglect. This passage reminds us that true leadership is about serving others, not exploiting them, and that God will not tolerate those who fail to act with compassion and responsibility.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a parable that challenges our understanding of fairness and generosity. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day but pays them all the same wage, much to the dismay of those who worked the longest. This story is not about human notions of fairness but about the boundless mercy of God. The landowner’s generosity to those who worked only an hour reflects God’s desire to include everyone in His kingdom, regardless of when they respond to His call. It invites us to trust in God’s justice, which is not limited by human standards but overflows with grace.
Both readings call us to reflect on our own roles as stewards and disciples. Are we like the shepherds in Ezekiel, neglecting those in our care, or are we like the landowner in Matthew, extending mercy and kindness without reserve? In our daily lives, we are called to lead with humility, care for the vulnerable, and trust in God’s plan, even when it challenges our expectations. Let us remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and His love is always greater than we can imagine.