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U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

August 19, 2015. Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

By Father José LaBoy, 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: Dear Jesus, I believe in you because you have revealed your plan of love to the Church. I hope in you because you are more interested in my happiness and salvation than I am. I love you because you have loved me without my deserving your love.

Petition: Lord, help me to appreciate and be grateful for your grace.

There Is Always an Opportunity: One of the worst experiences is to accept that you have lost the last opportunity to do something you have always wanted to do. This can occur in any human situation: job opportunities, university acceptances, etc. In the spiritual life, on the other hand, there is always the opportunity to live only for God, the opportunity to be redeemed. There is always the possibility to start again. Why is this? It is because God has granted us our time on earth to walk towards him. Therefore, even if we fall, he continues to give us the strength to get up. That is why the sacrament of reconciliation is so important. When we lose grace, our spiritual strength, we can regain it in the sacraments, especially in confession.

Expecting More Than You Deserve: Considered from a merely human point of view, this Gospel’s situation is an unjust one. Whoever works more should receive more than those who work less. We tend to forget, however, that in terms of the spiritual, everything is a gift. There is nothing in our nature that can demand grace. The demands of our faith are not “favors” we do for God, but existential obligations. That is why Christ reminds us, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ´We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do´” (Luke 17:10).

The Generosity of God: God’s generosity is a manifestation of his love for us. He knows each and every person intimately and personally. He knows that the needs of some are bigger than those of others. To think that God loves some people more than others is an injustice to God. We owe love and respect to others because we are all human persons with the same dignity. We owe adoration and love to God because he is our creator and provident Father. But God owes nothing to his creatures. Everything he gives us is gratuitous and a fruit of his infinite love. It’s too easy to treat God in a human way, forgetting that he is God. The most beautiful gift he gives us is his grace.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord, I sometimes see things from a very human and selfish point of view. Sometimes I find myself getting angry because others may have more than I do. Help me understand that the most important thing to be truly happy in my life is to be aware of the need I have of your grace.

Resolution: I will thank Christ for his grace and love and will try to imitate him by being generous to others.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 5

<< Wednesday, August 19, 2015 >>

St. John Eudes

Judges 9:6-15
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Psalm 21:2-7

Matthew 20:1-16
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SACRIFICIAL LOVE

"Must I give up...?" —Judges 9:9, 11, 13

In Jotham's story, three trees were asked to lead the other trees (Jgs 9:8ff). All three trees declined to serve because they would have had to give up what was most precious about themselves. Jotham's story teaches us that:

Love, leadership, and service mean sacrifice.
The Lord calls us to sacrifice not only little things but the most important aspects of our lives — indeed, our very selves.
A refusal to sacrifice hurts others greatly and will eventually destroy us. "Whoever would save his life will lose it" (Lk 9:24).

Jesus was asked to become the King of kings and rule over us trees and the world. Jesus accepted His Father's will and gave up His life for love of us. His sacrifice on Calvary brought salvation to the world headed for destruction.

Therefore, through Jesus, "let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which acknowledge His name. Do not neglect good deeds and generosity; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind" (Heb 13:15-16). By offering your participation in the Mass as often as possible, unite your life of sacrifice to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on Calvary. "I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God" (Rm 12:1).

Prayer: Father, may I consider it a privilege to sacrifice my life for love of You and Your people.

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

Praise: In his day, St. John was considered as the preacher most able to touch the hearts of his listeners. He also was instrumental in spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by providing a solid doctrinal basis for it.