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Everybody Is a Winner!
August 22, 2007

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Jason Brooks, LC

Matthew 20: 1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o´clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ´You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.´ So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o´clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o´clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ´Why do you stand here idle all day?´ They answered, ´Because no one has hired us.´ He said to them, ´You too go into my vineyard.´ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ´Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.´ When those who had started about five o´clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ´These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day´s burden and the heat.´ He said to one of them in reply, ´My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?´ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Introductory Prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, give me new strength from the courage of Christ the good shepherd, and lead me to join the saints in heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Petition: Lord, help me to hear your call to holiness and to respond to you with great fidelity and generosity.

1. The Time Is Now. It is important to remember that Christ is trying to teach the Jews a lesson here. Just because they were the chosen people—and had been worshipping the one, true God from the beginning of recorded history—did not mean that the Gentiles could not receive all the same perks as Jews in the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ is ready and willing to make us all saints and crown us all with glory. However, this requires that you accept the Lord’s invitation and get to work. This parable goes to show that God is the always the protagonist. He is the one that always takes the initiative. None of us can take credit for being saved. It was not you who chose God. It was Christ who called you and expects you to bear fruit that will last.

2. Don’t Just Stand There. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He came that we may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus is not a cheapskate, but he is not a spendthrift either. It is true that he lavishly pours out his gifts on us, but he certainly expects some return on his investment. He wants his investment to work for him and yield high returns. In short, Jesus loves a blue chip Christian. He does not want us to remain idle in the face of evil and injustice. In fact, the only reason why evil practices continue to plague our society is because there are not enough good people standing up and taking a stand for what is right.

3. Every Little Bit Counts. You never know what might happen if you start praying more and doing all that you do for the glory of God. There is a lot to be said for hidden sacrifices and for doing what you do with purity of intention. For example, it is hard to imagine just how powerful the prayers and sacrifices of cloistered nuns are. In the same way, it is hard to imagine how meritorious it is for a mother to change her baby’s diapers with love. Moreover, who can put a value on the power of a single act of kindness whatsoever? Who can fathom the cosmic chain reaction of charity that is initiated by a seemingly insignificant good deed? Jesus is trying to get us to think out of the box and open our eyes to the value of doing ordinary tasks with extraordinary love.

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, teach me the value of doing small things with great love. Show me how powerful love is. Make me an instrument of your peace and an apostle of mercy. Help me to live my life by faith and not by sight. May I judge things according to your standards and not by the standards of the world.

Resolution: I will perform some small act of charity with love and great purity of intention for the sake of the spread of the Gospel.

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
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God's Generosity: Are You Tuned In?

August 21, 2007

Judges 9:6-15 / Ps 21:2-3,4-5,6-7 / Mt 20:1-16

"They broke the mold when they made him." It's an old saying, and it comes to mind when we listen to today's gospel parable, which has nothing at all to do with fair labor practices, and everything to do with what God is like.

God is generous beyond all understanding, beyond all reason. He wants a rich, full life for every one of us, even though the best of us could never EARN it. He wants to GIVE it to us. And there is both the blessing and the problem. He wants to give, but are we ready to receive?

It's like the radio station that's beaming out a strong signal in all directions. Will that signal be received? Not if the radio is turned off or tuned to the wrong channel.

So there's the question: Are you receiving the signal that God is sending? Or are you shut down or tuned to the wrong channel? It's time to check: You may be missing the best part of life, nothing less than living daily in the company of a Father who really loves you.