Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Gospel

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."

Reflection

I would like to look at today’s Gospel through the lens of Hebrews 4:12, the verse before the Gospel, “The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart”. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about workers who go out at various times of day to work but all for the same wage. My initial reaction is that it is not fair that the workers who were in the field all day received the same pay as those who were there only for a short time. It makes me upset that the landowner would not reward their efforts better. I think I see myself in those workers, being on time, putting in the hours. Why doesn’t the landowner reward that? 

I read the passage again in order to reflect on why I don’t think the landowner is being fair.  He had an agreement with his workers, he was holding up his end of that agreement. Their agreement reminds me of a contract in todays world. He wasn’t going out of his way to cheat or manipulate, he was indeed being fair and doing his job well. After reading this a second time, the workers who were there all day seem selfish for their grumbling, only thinking of themselves. 

The Word of God speaks to us. It can bring about things that God wants us to notice in ourselves. “The word of God is living and effective, able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart”. Something I am currently trying to do a better job of in my own life is my own ability to discern. Not necessarily discerning big decisions, rather bringing the Lord into every moment of my life. How is the Lord speaking to you through today’s Gospel. I encourage you to take some time to sit with the Lord today and notice how he is moving your heart with his teachings.