Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to 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,
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.”

Hired to fulfil your life’s purpose

1) Went out at dawn. There’s a common misconception about religion that makes it seem as if everything depends on us—as if God’s closeness and blessings were based only on how much effort we put in. That’s the mindset behind Pelagianism and voluntarism, ideas that appeared in the Church centuries ago: the belief that we can earn heaven through determination and willpower alone. But today’s Gospel shows us the opposite. It’s God who goes out to find you, meet you where you are, and hold you close. He only asks that you be open to receiving Him. Let yourself be touched by God.

2) Unemployed. I know some people feel as if their life has lost its meaning—people for whom simply getting out of bed feels like a huge task. Maybe you listen to these reflections again and again but still wake up each day feeling heavy. First, I strongly encourage you to talk to a professional who can support and guide you, because asking for help is worth it. Let yourself be helped. If you’re dealing with insomnia, burnout, or a complete lack of motivation, try changing your surroundings. Life may be inviting you to make a shift, because whatever you’re doing right now is leaving you feeling like an unemployed bystander in your own life. Ask yourself, “How do I get out of this?” If your current state of mind isn’t bringing you peace, look for a real change. Deep down, every human being longs for happiness. So let someone in—whether it’s a friend, a priest, a religious guide, or a mental health professional. Let yourself be helped. Go after that change. I know it isn’t easy, but for the sake of your life, make the effort to begin again.

3) Give. The point of life is to live it—not to prove whether you’re a “first-class” or “second-class” Christian. We don’t go through life showing off medals from some ecclesiastical Olympics, listing every church group we’ve joined or every title we’ve earned. God wants all of us to reach heaven, and He invites us to commit to that path every day. Without faith, life can feel deeply unfair: people you love die, people you care about don’t love you back, trusted friends betray you, and the recognition you deserve may go to someone else. Life is full of injustice; it wasn’t designed to feel fair. Just look at Jesus’ life on earth. Faith reminds you there’s a reward in heaven. It helps you hold on to peace when others declare war on you. It moves you to keep giving, even to those who may never repay you. And it lets you carry a sense of justice in your heart, even when the world around you is unfair. Take heart—God is inviting you to truly live your life.

Never forget that something good is on the way! 

God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.