Daily Readings - Wed Aug 21 2024
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 messages from Ezekiel and Matthew that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our responsibilities toward others. Ezekiel's prophecy condemns the shepherds of Israel for their failure to care for their flock, highlighting their self-interest and neglect of the weak and lost. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of abandoning our duties to care for one another. Conversely, Matthew's parable of the laborers in the vineyard challenges our understanding of justice and generosity. The landowner's decision to pay all workers equally, regardless of their work duration, illustrates God's boundless mercy and grace, emphasizing that His ways are not our ways.
These readings are interconnected through the theme of God's direct involvement in the lives of His people. Ezekiel shows God stepping in to care for His scattered flock, while Matthew reveals God's generosity that defies human notions of fairness. Together, they call us to humility and trust in God's plan, recognizing that true justice and mercy are rooted in His love.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to embrace our roles as caregivers and stewards, whether in our families, communities, or workplaces. Let us strive to care for others with compassion and humility, trusting in God's plan and rejoicing in His generosity. May we find joy in serving others and trust in God's promise that the last shall be first.