Daily Readings - Sun Sep 20 2020
Isaiah
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.
Philippians
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
Matthew
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.