Daily Readings - Wed Aug 17 2022
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
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.