Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings August 17, 2011

August 17, 2011
Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1

When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: "Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you! Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.' But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us!' But the fig tree answered them, 'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.' But the vine answered them, 'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?' Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!' But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'"

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad. O LORD, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart's desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad. For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad. Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. You made him a blessing forever, you gladdened him with the joy of your face. R.Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

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.”

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, August 17, 2011 >>

Saint of the Day

Judges 9:6-15
View Readings

Psalm 21:2-7

Matthew 20:1-16

MERCY WATCH

"Begin with the last group and end with the first." —Matthew 20:8

Let's look at the parable of the laborers through the lens of discipleship. Jesus is always discipling His apostles, and the apostles are the ones who have been working the longest in the vineyard. Viewed from the context of discipleship, Jesus never misses an opportunity to teach His disciples about mercy. After all, it is mercy He desires (Mt 9:13), even more than the sacrifice of working long hours in His service (Mt 20:1-2).

So, to teach His disciples about mercy, Jesus takes His faithful servants, who have worked all "day in the scorching heat" (Mt 20:12) and sits them at His feet to teach them more about His favorite subject, the mercy of God. This entire parable is also meant to teach us who work long and hard for Him about mercy. That's why we longtime workers must sit and watch the short-timers receive God's mercy and generosity. If we focus on little things, like the amounts of money doled out, we miss the most important things, which are the joy of the master in being generous, and the lesson Jesus teaches us that "mercy triumphs over" justice (Jas 2:13).

It's so much a part of our human nature to be caught up in fairness and justice. That's why so many people struggle with this parable, thinking that the master treated the hard workers unfairly. If we realize that God is always teaching us about mercy, we will look not at the master's money when he passes it out, but at his face, which shines with joy whenever he shows mercy. We will celebrate the mercy of God (Lk 15:32) and delight in mercy (Mi 7:18) as He does, because He "is rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4).

Prayer: Father, may I never allow my selfishness or curiosity to distract me from Your lessons about mercy.

Promise: "The last shall be first and the first shall be last." —Mt 20:16

Praise: Louise works for the Lord and works at rejoicing always while doing so.

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