Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts "Day after day I shall bless you, I shall praise your name for ever and ever. Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise, his greatness beyond all reckoning. Each age will praise your deeds to the next, proclaiming your mighty works. Your renown is the splendour of your glory, I will ponder the story of your wonders. They will speak of your awesome power, and I shall recount your greatness. They will bring out the memory of your great generosity, and joyfully acclaim your saving justice. Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love. Yahweh is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures. And, with generous hand, you satisfy the desires of every living creature. Upright in all that he does, Yahweh acts only in faithful love."
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A
Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY From the Gospel according to Matthew MT 20:1-16A
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, the landowner 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, the landowner 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.”
Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.
PSALM 145 THE LORD IS NEAR WHOEVER INVOKES HIM
"Day after day I shall bless you, I shall praise your name for ever and ever. Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise, his greatness beyond all reckoning. Each age will praise your deeds to the next, proclaiming your mighty works. Your renown is the splendour of your glory, I will ponder the story of your wonders. They will speak of your awesome power, and I shall recount your greatness. They will bring out the memory of your great generosity, and joyfully acclaim your saving justice. Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love. Yahweh is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures. And, with generous hand, you satisfy the desires of every living creature. Upright in all that he does, Yahweh acts only in faithful love."
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A
Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
GOSPEL according to Matthew MT 20:1-16A
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, the landowner 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, the landowner 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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER This “injustice” of the owner serves to provoke in those listening to the parable a qualitative leap because here Jesus does not want to speak about the issue of work or of a fair wage, but about the Kingdom of God! And this is the message: there are no unemployed people in the Kingdom of God. Everyone is called to do their part; and there will be a reward from divine justice for everyone in the end — not from human [justice], luckily! —, but the salvation that Jesus Christ acquired for us with his death and Resurrection, a salvation which is not deserved, but donated — salvation is free. He uses mercy, he forgives broadly. (Angelus, 24 September 2017)
FAUSTI - "Your eye is bad, why am I Good?" He asks those who would like to be first, He who gives attention to the last. The first are last and the last first also in spiritual goods. One who leaves everything to work in the vineyard, like Peter and companions, receives a great recompense, as already said (19,27-29). This parable shows us that it is a gift of grace granted to all, beginning with the last ones. The Lord, the One who is Good, does to perfection what He says to the rich young man: He gives everything that is His to the poor. The vineyard is the people, called to bear the fruits of the Kingdom, which are the love of God and neighbor. The Lord goes out constantly, at all hours, to call us and call us back. Our entire day - the history of each and every one of us - is only a constant call to bear fruit. This parable destroys at its root the logic of possession and claim: no one can claim credits for what is a pure gift of grace. The first called, both in Israel and in the Church, are like Jonah: they are gloomy to see that God is "merciful, clement, patient and of great love" (Gen 4:2). They are attached to their spiritual goods, like the rich young man to material goods. They are like Paul, who glorified himself for his irreproachability in the righteousness of the law (Phil 3:3-6); they are like the elder brother, who is angry to see that the Father is good to his younger brother (Lk 15:28). This parable is a Gospel in nuce , similar to Luke 15,1... It is at contrast with the ethics of capitalism, whether material or spiritual. It is not against the law or justice - to the workers of the first hour it is given what is right - but it accentuates the grace. God's Law and justice are those of love and liberality; His retribution exceeds all merit: it is a reward, given by mercy to all. The first ones called to work in the vineyard are in danger of rejecting the Lord, because He is magnanimous towards the last ones. For all, Salvation is the gratuitous Love of the Father. One cannot kidnap it with cunning or conquer it with sweat: it is grace. The eternal life that the rich young man wants to have (19:16), can be obtained not by doing something more, but by leaving everything. One must leave not only material goods, but also spiritual goods. The Kingdom is of the poor in spirit (5:3), of the one who has become like a child and welcomes it as a gift of the Father to the sons in the Son. The privilege of the little ones and the last ones is that, not meriting it, they understand that it is a gift. The others - the rich ones in spirit - will welcome it only if, unlike the elder brother, they will accept the younger one, only if, unlike those who have worked since dawn, they are happy that their brothers of the last hour have their own salary as sons. The passage is divided into two parts: there are five different calls from dawn until one hour before sunset (v.1-7); at sunset there is the reward, starting from the last ones who receive the same compensation accorded with the first ones, who, of course, complain (v. 8-16). The fulcrum is the reproach to one of the workers of the first hour, who does not accept that the Lord treats those of the last hour like him. Jesus brings back on earth what was at the "beginning". The Father's way of acting, Who is benevolent with all His children, even with those who do not deserve it. The Church, if she seeks salvation from her own works, knows that she no longer has anything to do with Christ, she has decayed from grace (Gal 5:4). Christians, aware that they have been saved by grace (Eph 2:5), laying down bitterness, indignation, anger, clamor, slander and all forms of malice, be benevolent to each other. Let them grace one another as God has graced them in Christ (Eph 4:31).
First reading from the Book of Isaiah
RispondiEliminaIS 55:6-9
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts
"Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
Each age will praise your deeds to the next,
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendour of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory
of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger,
full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
And, with generous hand, you satisfy
the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love."
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A
Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Matthew
MT 20:1-16A
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,
the landowner 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,
the landowner 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.”
RispondiEliminaFirst reading from the Book of Isaiah
IS 55:6-9
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
PSALM 145
THE LORD IS NEAR WHOEVER INVOKES HIM
"Day after day I shall bless you,
I shall praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise,
his greatness beyond all reckoning.
Each age will praise your deeds to the next,
proclaiming your mighty works.
Your renown is the splendour of your glory,
I will ponder the story of your wonders.
They will speak of your awesome power,
and I shall recount your greatness.
They will bring out the memory
of your great generosity,
and joyfully acclaim your saving justice.
Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger,
full of faithful love.
Yahweh is generous to all,
his tenderness embraces all his creatures.
And, with generous hand, you satisfy
the desires of every living creature.
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love."
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A
Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh,
that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh
is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
GOSPEL according to Matthew
MT 20:1-16A
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,
the landowner 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,
the landowner 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.”
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
RispondiEliminaThis “injustice” of the owner serves to provoke in those listening to the parable a qualitative leap because here Jesus does not want to speak about the issue of work or of a fair wage, but about the Kingdom of God! And this is the message: there are no unemployed people in the Kingdom of God. Everyone is called to do their part; and there will be a reward from divine justice for everyone in the end — not from human [justice], luckily! —, but the salvation that Jesus Christ acquired for us with his death and Resurrection, a salvation which is not deserved, but donated — salvation is free. He uses mercy, he forgives broadly. (Angelus, 24 September 2017)
FAUSTI - "Your eye is bad, why am I Good?" He asks those who would like to be first, He who gives attention to the last. The first are last and the last first also in spiritual goods. One who leaves everything to work in the vineyard, like Peter and companions, receives a great recompense, as already said (19,27-29).
RispondiEliminaThis parable shows us that it is a gift of grace granted to all, beginning with the last ones. The Lord, the One who is Good, does to perfection what He says to the rich young man: He gives everything that is His to the poor. The vineyard is the people, called to bear the fruits of the Kingdom, which are the love of God and neighbor.
The Lord goes out constantly, at all hours, to call us and call us back. Our entire day - the history of each and every one of us - is only a constant call to bear fruit.
This parable destroys at its root the logic of possession and claim: no one can claim credits for what is a pure gift of grace.
The first called, both in Israel and in the Church, are like Jonah: they are gloomy to see that God is "merciful, clement, patient and of great love" (Gen 4:2).
They are attached to their spiritual goods, like the rich young man to material goods. They are like Paul, who glorified himself for his irreproachability in the righteousness of the law (Phil 3:3-6); they are like the elder brother, who is angry to see that the Father is good to his younger brother (Lk 15:28).
This parable is a Gospel in nuce , similar to Luke 15,1... It is at contrast with the ethics of capitalism, whether material or spiritual.
It is not against the law or justice - to the workers of the first hour it is given what is right - but it accentuates the grace. God's Law and justice are those of love and liberality; His retribution exceeds all merit: it is a reward, given by mercy to all.
The first ones called to work in the vineyard are in danger of rejecting the Lord, because He is magnanimous towards the last ones. For all, Salvation is the gratuitous Love of the Father.
One cannot kidnap it with cunning or conquer it with sweat: it is grace.
The eternal life that the rich young man wants to have (19:16), can be obtained not by doing something more, but by leaving everything. One must leave not only material goods, but also spiritual goods.
The Kingdom is of the poor in spirit (5:3), of the one who has become like a child and welcomes it as a gift of the Father to the sons in the Son. The privilege of the little ones and the last ones is that, not meriting it, they understand that it is a gift.
The others - the rich ones in spirit - will welcome it only if, unlike the elder brother, they will accept the younger one, only if, unlike those who have worked since dawn, they are happy that their brothers of the last hour have their own salary as sons.
The passage is divided into two parts: there are five different calls from dawn until one hour before sunset (v.1-7); at sunset there is the reward, starting from the last ones who receive the same compensation accorded with the first ones, who, of course, complain (v. 8-16).
The fulcrum is the reproach to one of the workers of the first hour, who does not accept that the Lord treats those of the last hour like him.
Jesus brings back on earth what was at the "beginning". The Father's way of acting, Who is benevolent with all His children, even with those who do not deserve it.
The Church, if she seeks salvation from her own works, knows that she no longer has anything to do with Christ, she has decayed from grace (Gal 5:4).
Christians, aware that they have been saved by grace (Eph 2:5), laying down bitterness, indignation, anger, clamor, slander and all forms of malice, be benevolent to each other. Let them grace one another as God has graced them in Christ (Eph 4:31).