DAILY- HOMILY

AUGUST 21, 2013
MEMORIAL, SAINT PIUS X, POPE
WEDNESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR I

Jdg 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
This story throws light on the kingdom of Heaven: A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay each worker the usual daily wage, and sent them to his vineyard He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the town square, he said to them, `You also, 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— the eleventh hour—and he saw others standing there. So he said to them, `Why do you stay idle the whole day?' They answered, `Because no one has hired us.' 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, beginning with the last and ending with the first.' Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up, and were each given a silver coin. When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. But they, too, each received a silver coin. So, on receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner. They said, `These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us, who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat.' The owner said to one of them, `Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin per 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 what is mine? Why are you envious when I am kind?' So will it be: the last will be first, the first will be last."

REFLECTION
The parable of the vineyard laborers shows the generosity of God and the jealousy of men. Envy or jealousy is a capital sin which is caused by one's inability to rejoice at the good fortunes of others. The envious person is not happy and even complains about what he perceives to be an injustice to himself – the good fortune of someone else.

In the Book of Job, Job said, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" We should have this attitude when we receive material blessings from God. We should be thankful to Him while being aware that material things do not last. When another person receives blessings from God, we should rejoice with him and praise God's generosity. God wants to shower His graces on all men. But to each person God gives something different because He treats us as individuals. So we must not be envious of what other people receive from God. Instead we should mind our own business, do our Christian duties every day with dedication, and not expect anything in return. We must consider ourselves unworthy servants of the living God. Then if we ever do receive something for our efforts, we would be truly grateful, knowing that God is gracious.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of Chief Samrose Anyaugo
… for the personal intentions of
- Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo, Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo, Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
- Beny Chua
- Rosemarie Reyes
… In Thanksgiving for the birthday of Mary Jane Billanes
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Justin Peter Lim
- Birthday: Bryan L. Lim
- Birthday: Jeanne Clotilde Coleongco
- Birthday: Fr. Johnny Go, S.J.
- In Memoriam (+): Caridad D. Exconde, Md
- In Memoriam (+): Carmen Tan Sio Ty Ngo (1932-1977)
… 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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