Daily Readings - Wed Aug 18 2021
Judges
6And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.7And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.9But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?10And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?14Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.15And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
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 leadership, judgment, and the surprising ways of God. In the first reading from Judges, Jotham’s parable of the trees offers a cautionary tale about the choices we make in selecting leaders. The trees, seeking a king, reject the olive tree, fig tree, and vine—all of which provide nourishment and joy—because they value their own gifts too much to take on the responsibility of ruling. Only the bramble, a thorny and troublesome plant, accepts the role, warning that if the trees are not willing to submit to its rule, it will destroy them with fire. This parable reminds us that leadership can often be a double-edged sword, and those who seek power for the wrong reasons may bring harm rather than prosperity.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, challenging our human notions of fairness and justice. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day, yet pays them all the same wage, regardless of how long they worked. When the first workers complain, the landowner responds by emphasizing his generosity and his right to do as he pleases. This parable upends our expectations, teaching us that God’s ways are not our ways. His kingdom is not about earning rewards based on merit but about receiving His abundant grace freely. It invites us to trust in His goodness and not to judge others based on our own limited understanding.
Both readings call us to reflect on how we relate to God and to one another. The parable of the trees warns us about the dangers of self-serving leadership and the importance of humility. The parable of the laborers reminds us to let go of our need to compare ourselves to others and instead embrace the boundless generosity of God. In our daily lives, we are called to trust in God’s judgment, to be open to His surprises, and to live with gratitude for the gifts He freely gives. May we learn to see the world through the lens of His mercy and to live in harmony with His will.