Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 21, 2019
Psalm 21
1O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!2You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah3You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.4He asked you for life, and you gave it to him- length of days, for ever and ever.5Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.6Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.7For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.8Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.9At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them.10You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind.11Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;12for you will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.13Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
Gospel: Matthew 20.1-16a
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.'5So they went.6"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'7"'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.'8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.'13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Sermon
In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, a story that challenges our understanding of fairness and reward. A landowner hires workers at various times throughout the day, from early morning to the eleventh hour, promising each the same wage of one denarius. When evening comes, he pays all workers equally, regardless of how long they worked. This act of generosity sparks grumbling among those who toiled the longest, feeling they deserve more. The landowner’s response emphasizes his right to generosity, reminding them that he caused no injustice and that his goodness should not be resented.
This parable, set in the context of Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of heaven, invites us to reflect on God’s grace and mercy. It highlights that the kingdom is not about earning rewards but receiving them through God’s generosity. The workers who worked longer symbolize those who may feel they have earned their place, while the latecomers represent those who come to faith later, yet still receive the same gift of eternal life. This challenges our tendency to compare ourselves to others and reminds us that God’s ways are beyond human understanding.
As we apply this to our lives, we are called to embrace humility and gratitude. Let us not judge others based on their journey but trust in God’s justice and love. The parable teaches us to avoid envy and resentment, focusing instead on our own relationship with God. It reminds us that everyone is called, but few choose to follow, urging us to remain faithful and open to God’s generous heart. May we accept His grace with humility and rejoice in His goodness, knowing that in His eyes, the last shall be first.