Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 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, 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.”
God’s workers
1) What was arranged: the parable states that at the beginning there is an arrangement with the laborers. There are times in life when we seek more than our fair share, and we also demand that others give us more than they can. This, many times, leads to losing love and enthusiasm. Sometimes you expect whoever walks by your side to join your accelerated rhythm. You are in such a hurry you don’t even notice that the person next to you might not be well, just because there is no time to talk or share a conversation.
It even happens in married life… as soon as you get home you start with all your house work and you don’t even stop to look at your husband or your wife in the face. It is the same with that priest or that nun who doesn’t make time to sit down and talk about life with their brother or sister in the community; they only talk about obligations and chores. That is a killer! It ruins your life, and you only live and work for a reward, not joy.
2) Nobody hired us: Doing nothing kills and allows crazy thoughts to run in your mind . When people are idle and unoccupied they start getting into the lives of others. You might start questioning them like a kind of panelist in life; it leads you to judge the lives of others and what they do, while there is nothing happening in your own life. It is essential to be occupied, to work, and do something to improve your life. It is not good to be idle.
3) Be good: God promises all of us His Kingdom. He appears in the life of each person at the right moment, because God’s time is not the same as ours. Stop wasting time looking at how other people live their lives…keep your eyes on God; Focus on the arrangement that you have with God. Sometimes people come and say “Father, I brought my friend who is a “devil” to see if you could say something to him.” What do you want me to say? “Just tell them that when God touches their heart they will be happy”. But, this guy probably already has felt that divine touch from God that will lead him to be happy, in his own way. Let’s respect other people’s space and time. You have a debt with God and we are not able to be more generous than God. Never forget that! As much as we may try, we are not able to be more generous than our Creator. Stay strong and be happy, God will touch your heart in the right moment.
God bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Heaven is our goal !
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