Daily Readings - Wed Aug 22 2018
Ezekiel
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?3Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.7Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;8As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;9Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;10Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Matthew
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s justice, mercy, and the call to humility. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a powerful rebuke of the shepherds of Israel who failed to care for God’s people. Ezekiel speaks on behalf of the Lord, condemning those who prioritized their own interests over the well-being of the flock. The shepherds neglected the weak, the sick, and the lost, ruling with harshness instead of compassion. This passage serves as a stark reminder that leadership is not about self-serving power but about serving others with love and care. God promises to intervene, seeking out His scattered flock and restoring them, for He is the true Shepherd who cares for His people.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, challenging our notions of fairness and reward. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day, yet pays them all the same wage. When the early laborers complain, the landowner reminds them that His generosity is not limited by human notions of fairness. This parable underscores the boundless mercy and grace of God, who calls everyone to His kingdom, regardless of when they respond. It also calls us to humility, warning against envy or resentment toward others. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last, for God’s ways are not our ways, and His love is not constrained by our expectations.
Together, these readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about earning rewards but about trusting in His goodness. Like the shepherds in Ezekiel, we are called to care for one another, especially the vulnerable. And like the laborers in the vineyard, we are invited to embrace humility and gratitude, recognizing that God’s grace is a gift, not something we can earn. Let us strive to live with hearts open to His mercy, trusting in His plan, and serving others with love.