20 August 2025 (Wednesday)
Saint Bernard, Abbot, Doctor on Wednesday of week 20 in Ordinary Time.
Saint Bernard, Abbot, Doctor Obligatory Memorial.
Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:
First Reading: Judges 9: 6-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 21: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Alleluia: Hebrews 4: 12
Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16
First Reading : Judges 9:6‐15
All the leading men of Shechem and all Beth‐millo gathered, and proclaimed Abimelech king by the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem. News of this was brought to Jotham. He came and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted aloud for them to hear: ‘Hear me, leaders of Shechem, that God may also hear you! ‘One day the trees went out to anoint a king to rule over them. They said to the olive tree, “Be our king!” ‘The olive tree answered them, “Must I forego my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand swaying above the trees?” ‘Then the trees said to the fig tree, “Come now, you be our king!” ‘The fig tree answered them, “Must I forego my sweetness, forego my excellent fruit, to stand swaying above the trees?” ‘Then the trees said to the vine, “Come now, you be our king!” ‘The vine answered them, “Must I forego my wine which cheers the heart of gods and men, to stand swaying above the trees?” ‘Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, “Come now, you be our king!” ‘And the thorn bush answered the trees, “If in all good faith you anoint me king to reign over you, then come and shelter in my shade. If not, fire will come from the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”’
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 20(21):2‐7
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king; how your saving help makes him glad! You have granted him his heart’s desire; you have not refused the prayer of his lips.
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
You came to meet him with the blessings of success, you have set on his head a crown of pure gold. He asked you for life and this you have given, days that will last from age to age.
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
Your saving help has given him glory. You have laid upon him majesty and splendour, you have granted your blessings to him forever. You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.
O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.
Gospel : Matthew 20:1‐16
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’
For our reflection today:
For the owner of the vineyard, that is, for God, it is just that each person has what he needs to live. He called the labourers personally, he knows their dignity, and on the basis of this, he wants to pay them, and he gives all of them one denarius. The story says that the labourers from the first hour are disappointed: they cannot see the beauty of the gesture of the landowner, who was not unjust, but simply generous; who looked not only at merit, but also at need. God wants to give his Kingdom, that is, full, eternal and happy life, to everyone. And this is what Jesus does with us: he does not establish rankings, he gives all of himself to those who open their hearts to him. In the light of this parable, today’s Christian might be tempted to think, “Why start work immediately? I would like to say, especially to the young, do not wait, but respond enthusiastically to the Lord who calls us to work in his vineyard. Do not delay, roll up your sleeves, because the Lord is generous and you will not be disappointed! Working in his vineyard, you will find an answer to that profound question you carry within you: what is the meaning of my life? (Pope Leo XIV, General Audience, 4 June 2025)
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
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