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| "Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard" -- by Rembrandt |
FIRST READING: Isaiah 55: 6-9
6
Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is
near.
7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and
let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our
God: for he is bountiful to forgive.
8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith
the Lord.
9
For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways
exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
PSALM:
Psalms 145:
2-3, 8-9, 17-18
2
Every day I will bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever;
yea, for ever and ever.
3
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness
there is no end.
8
The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.
9
The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his
works.
17
The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works.
18
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call
upon him in truth.
SECOND
READING: Philippians
1: 20-24, 27
20
According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be
confounded, but with all confidence, as always, so now also shall
Christ be magnified in my body, wither it be by life, or by death.
21
For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain.
22
And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and
what I shall choose I know not.
23
But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and
to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.
24
But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you.
27
Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that,
whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that
you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for
the faith of the gospel.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 20: 1-16
1
The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early
in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2
And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them
into his vineyard.
3
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the
market place idle.
4
And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give
you what shall be just.
5
And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and
the ninth hour, and did in like manner.
6
But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing,
and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?
7
They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go
you also into my vineyard.
8
And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his
steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from
the last even to the first.
9
When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour,
they received every man a penny.
10
But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive
more: and they also received every man a penny.
11
And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,
12
Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them
equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.
13
But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong:
didst thou not agree with me for a penny?
14
Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last
even as to thee.
15
Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil,
because I am good?
16
So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called,
but few chosen.
