[Salvation]

Abandoning Self and Embracing Love

• Homily of the Day
• August 22nd, 2012
• Food For Thought

First Reading: Ez. 34:1-11

Psalm: Ps. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Gospel: Mt. 20:1-16

Today’s Gospel of the workers in the vineyard has often puzzled many of us. We are all brought up with ideas concerning work and compensation, i.e. no work no pay, more work more pay and less work less pay. It does not seem fair to the workers who had worked longer hours to receive less than those who had worked more.

Even during the time of Jesus, the people were shocked to hear of such a radical idea. However, perhaps Jesus really intended to shock his listeners in the same way he shocked those who listen to the parable of the good shepherd. What Jesus may be proposing to his listeners then and to us now, is that the Lord’s love and generosity is the foundation of thekingdomofGod.

This is so different and opposite from the way human nature operates. Why is it that many of us have difficulty in accepting that God’s love and generosity as the foundation of our value system? Is it because we were taught otherwise? Is it because of our greed, self-sufficiency and self-centeredness? Are we any different from the people during the time of Jesus? Perhaps we need to be reminded to thank the Lord for his generosity.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Wednesday, August 22, 2012 >>

Queenship of Mary

Ezekiel 34:1-11
View Readings

Psalm 23:1-6

Matthew 20:1-16

SHEEP-SHEPHERDS

"Thus says the Lord God: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves!' " —Ezekiel 34:2

 

If we love Jesus, we will feed, tend, and shepherd His sheep, that is, His people (Jn 21:15-17). However, many Christians think that you have to be leading a church to be a shepherd. On the contrary, the Lord considers parents, leaders of all kinds, employers, and all Christians to have some shepherding responsibilities. God has put a flock in your daily life and He wants you to give this flock a shepherd's care (1 Pt 5:2).

Do you consider yourself to be the pastor of your family, neighborhood, office, or factory? You probably don't. Therefore, you are probably not strengthening the weak, healing the sick, binding up the injured, bringing back the strayed, and seeking the lost (Ez 34:4). You are probably not a good shepherd because you think you are only a sheep.

Repent of your ignorance and irresponsibility concerning your shepherding responsibilities. The Lord will have mercy on you. He may give you a full day's pay even if you start to shepherd your children, neighbors, employees, or co-workers in the eleventh hour of a twelve-hour shift (Mt 20:9). Go to Confession. Ask the Good Shepherd for mercy. Then be a good shepherd, and thereby a good sheep.

 

Prayer: Father, may I lay down my life for the sheep You have given me (Jn 10:11, 15, 17).

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

Praise: The Blessed Virgin Mary, a lowly teenage girl, was raised to high places (Lk 1:52) as Queen of heaven and earth. Praise God, Who rewards His beloved for their service to Him!