In today’s appointed Gospel reading, we learn about God’s justice:
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Mt. 20: 1-16).
God’s justice and mercy are boundless. The person who lives according to God’s law at all times and the notorious sinner are both treated equally by God. God offers salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, to both the person who is always good and the notorious sinner. Sometimes, in our eyes, that doesn’t seem fair. But our brand of justice and God’s are not the same. God offers unbounded love to everyone, even those we least expect.
Let us pray: Loving Father, You give us love and forgiveness of sins through Your Son, Jesus Christ; give us Your Holy Spirit so that we may see as Your Son sees, and so that we may be instruments of Your Kingdom to everyone we meet. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.
CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (Mt. 20: 1-16).
God’s justice and mercy are boundless. The person who lives according to God’s law at all times and the notorious sinner are both treated equally by God. God offers salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, to both the person who is always good and the notorious sinner. Sometimes, in our eyes, that doesn’t seem fair. But our brand of justice and God’s are not the same. God offers unbounded love to everyone, even those we least expect.
Let us pray: Loving Father, You give us love and forgiveness of sins through Your Son, Jesus Christ; give us Your Holy Spirit so that we may see as Your Son sees, and so that we may be instruments of Your Kingdom to everyone we meet. Amen.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and today especially pray for Gladys Simon, Pat Tate, for those who are travelling, especially Bob Newding, and for those who are ill, especially, Shalea Callis, who is back in the hospital, for Carol Freeman's brother, Terry, who had surgery, and for Cindi Clack, and in thanksgiving for all God has done for us.
CALENDAR REMINDERS: UBE Youth at St. Augustine of Hippo the last weekend of July. This is a special time for the UBE Youth who are coming home to learn how special and significant their place is not only in the Diocese of Texas, but in the greater Church.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
No comments:
Post a Comment