August 21, 2013

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Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope 
Lectionary: 421

Reading 1JGS 9:6-15

All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together

and proceeded to make Abimelech king

by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.

When this was reported to him,

Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there,

cried out to them in a loud voice:

“Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!

Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves.

So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil,

whereby men and gods are honored,

and go to wave over the trees?’

Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’

But the fig tree answered them,

‘Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit,

and go to wave over the trees?’

Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, and reign over us.’

But the vine answered them,

‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men,

and go to wave over the trees?’

Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’

But the buckthorn replied to the trees,

‘If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith,

come and take refuge in my shadow.

Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

The Hebrews annointed a murderer their King.  Jotham has warned them that only evil can come from such a decision.  As Our Lord said:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Responsorial PsalmPS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
You made him a blessing forever,
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

God is He who appoints Kings.  In the previous reading, the Hebrews appointed a King for themselves. And they appointed a man who was a murderer.  Perhaps because they were afraid of him.  They should have waited on the Lord to present them with the King he desired.  Or, they should have simply let God be their King.

GospelMT 20:1-16

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner

who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.

After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,

he sent them into his vineyard.

Going out about nine o’clock,

he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,

and I will give you what is just.’

So they went off.

And he went out again around noon,

and around three o’clock, and did likewise.

Going out about five o’clock,

he found others standing around, and said to them,

‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’

They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’

He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,

‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,

beginning with the last and ending with the first.’

When those who had started about five o’clock came,

each received the usual daily wage.

So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,

but each of them also got the usual wage.

And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,

‘These last ones worked only one hour,

and you have made them equal to us,

who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’

He said to one of them in reply,

‘My friend, I am not cheating you.

Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?

Take what is yours and go.

What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?

Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?

Are you envious because I am generous?’

Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

We, Christians, are they who came late.  We are they who received the same wage without any labor on our part.  How can this be?  By virtue of the Sacraments.

It is in the Sacraments that we receive the sanctifying grace of justification.  And we don't labor for this grace. We simply ask Jesus Christ for His mercy and He cleanses us of our sins.  

This is the advantage that we Catholics have over all other groups.  Jew, Protestant, all other peoples must await their presence before the Judgement seat of Jesus Christ to receive either justification or condemnation.  But we walk with the Saints from the time that we are washed in the waters of regeneration:

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,  23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,  24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Always be humble and grateful for this great gift.