DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 17, 2011
MEMORIAL, ST CLARE OF MONTEFALCO, FOUNDRESS
WEDNESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Jgs 9:6-15 / Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 / Mt 20:1-16

JUDGES 9:6-15
Then all the lords of Shechem and the whole council assembled together
by the oak at the pillar in Shechem, and proclaimed Abimelech king.
When Jotham was told about this, he went to the top of Mount Gerizim.
There he cried out to them, "Listen to me, lords of Shechem, that God
may listen to you! The trees once set out to find and anoint a king.
They said to the olive tree, `Be our king.' The olive tree answered,
`Am I going to renounce the oil by which—thanks to me—gods and people
are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' The trees said to the fig
tree: `Come and reign over us.' The fig tree answered them, `Am I
going to renounce my sweetness and my delicious fruit, to hold sway
over the trees?' The trees said to the vine: `Come and reign over us.'
The vine answered, `Am I going to renounce my juice which cheers gods
and people to hold sway over the trees?' Then the trees said to the
bramble bush: `Come, reign over us.' The bramble bush answered the
trees, `If you come in sincerity to anoint me as your king, then come
near and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire break out of
the bramble bush to devour even the cedars of Lebanon.'

MATTHEW 20:1-16
Jesus said to his disciples, "A landowner went out early in the
morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the workers
a salary of a silver coin for the day, and sent them to his vineyard.
He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle
in the square, he said to them: `You, too, go to my vineyard and I
will pay you what is just.' So they went. The owner went out at midday
and again at three in the afternoon, and he did the same. Finally he
went out at the last working hour and he saw others standing there.
The master said: `Go and work in my vineyard.' When evening came, the
owner of the vineyard said to his manager: `Call the workers and pay
them their wage,' Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour
turned up and were given a denarius each (a silver coin). When it was
the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they,
too, received a denarius each. So, on receiving it, they began to
grumble against the landowner. The owner said to one of them: `Friend,
I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on a denarius a day?
So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I
give to you. Don't I have the right to do as I please with my money?
Why are you envious when I am kind?' "So will it be: the last will be
first, the first will be last."

REFLECTION
Many of us work tirelessly. We don't count the hours we put in just to
meet our deadlines. We often do what is expected without complaints.
At the end of the day, we receive no rewards, no kudos or a hearty
thank you. Then, comes along someone who receives the highest of all
praises just because that person was able to deliver one piece of the
work we have done. It is truly frustrating and it is not fair. Is this
what life is all about?

The many expectations we have about ourselves and others zap the joy
from entering our lives. Many times we are tangled up in our
obligations for the sake of simply fulfilling them. Therefore, when
others receive more, we tend to miss the point. We forget that we have
accomplished something worthwhile that makes life better for other
people, our families and ourselves. We forget to understand that our
work is done and that Jesus wants us now to celebrate the fruits of
our labor. We forget to stop and think of the extra blessings we
receive after being able to work.

Let us not miss the point. We have agreed to work and we have been
paid. Now it's time to be grateful.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Delores, Netta, Nick, Kurt & Barb
- Wilfredo Tadiosa
- Anna Limpe McAvoy
…In Thanksgiving: Nick & G
… for the personal intentions of
- Fr. Sergio Dias
- Josheil Dapo
… In Memoriam: Corazon Balares
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Ma Cecilia P. Navarro
- Birthday: Billie C. Syling
- Birthday: Aaron John Almazan
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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