Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 20, 2020
First Reading: Isaiah 55.6-9
6Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.7Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.8"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.9"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 exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.2Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.4One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.5They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.6They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.7They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.9The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.10All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.11They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,12so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.14The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Second Reading: Philippians 1.20-24, 27
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
Gospel: Matthew 20.1-16
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s mercy, generosity, and the call to live with humility and trust in His plan. In the first reading, Isaiah urges us to seek the Lord while He is near, emphasizing that His ways and thoughts are far greater than ours. This is a call to repentance and trust, reminding us that God’s forgiveness is abundant and that His plans for us are beyond our comprehension. The second reading from Philippians expresses Paul’s deep hope and confidence in Christ, whether in life or in death. Paul’s words remind us that living for Christ is the ultimate goal, and that our actions should always reflect the Gospel, standing firm in faith and unity. The Gospel parable of the vineyard workers challenges us to embrace God’s generosity and fairness. The workers who labored for only an hour received the same pay as those who worked all day, teaching us that God’s grace is not limited by our efforts or timing but is instead a gift of His boundless love.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s plan and acceptance of His generosity. Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and the Gospel parable illustrates this truth through the equal payment of wages, despite unequal labor. Paul’s letter encourages us to live in a way worthy of the Gospel, trusting that God’s plan is greater than our own. Together, the readings call us to humility, gratitude, and a willingness to let go of comparisons or expectations of reward. They remind us that our value and worth come not from our efforts but from God’s love and mercy.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to approach God with humility and trust, recognizing that His timing and ways are beyond our understanding. Let us not compare ourselves to others or question God’s fairness but instead embrace His generosity with gratitude. May we live in such a way that we reflect the Gospel, standing firm in faith and united in spirit, trusting that God’s plan for us is always greater than our own.