Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 24, 2023
First Reading: Isaiah 55.6-9
6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 145
1I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.5I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.6And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.14The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.16Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.21My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Second Reading: Philippians 1.20-24, 27
20According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Gospel: Matthew 20.1-16
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 are invited to reflect on God's boundless generosity and the call to live with faith and trust in His plan. The first reading from Isaiah urges us to seek the Lord while He is near, emphasizing His mercy and the higher ways of God. This call to repentance reminds us that turning away from sin opens us to receive His forgiveness and grace.
The second reading from Philippians finds Paul expressing a deep longing to be with Christ while acknowledging the importance of his mission. He encourages the Philippians to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel, standing firm in their faith. This passage highlights the balance between desiring eternal life and faithfully serving God's purpose here on earth.
The Gospel parable in Matthew challenges our notions of fairness and reward. The landowner's generosity to all workers, regardless of their hours, illustrates God's grace and the truth that the last shall be first. This parable teaches us to trust in God's plan, which often surpasses our understanding, and to be open to His unexpected ways of bestowing blessings.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace God's ways, live faithfully, and trust in His generosity. Let us seek the Lord with repentant hearts, live out our faith with courage, and remain open to the surprising ways God works in our lives. May we find joy in His plan and trust in His abundant grace.