9.20.14

Lectio: Mt 20.1-16a

Meditatio: "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.” Mt 20.8

Oratio: O God, Your love is extravagant and most generous.

I remember Jesus told a parable about workers in the vineyard and the landowner - You - paid the same wage to all who worked for Him that day the same amount. Although those who worked 12 hours grumbled for they thought they should get paid more, no injustice was done because they were paid the amount they agreed upon. The landowner knew that all day workers needed a daily wage ss it what was needed for a family to live on for a day with a little left over. In paying the ones who only worked one hour a daily wage, Jesus was showing the depth and breathe of Your love and that love consists of reaching out to the other for the good of the other and not for what one gets out ot it, In prayer seek the grace to truly love my neighbor and myself and in the manner You want..

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "give....pay...last...first”; those who worked 12 hours got paid the same as those who worked one hour and naturally the 12 hour workers grumbled even  though they had been paid the agreed upon sum. In this we see no injustice but great generosity on the part of the landowner.Rather the landowner was showing great love  to the latecomers for He knew the latecomers needed a day’s wage so that their families would have what they needed to live on the next day. Seek the grace to rejoice in the good fortunes of others and not to envy them for that is a way to truly love..

Tomorrow's reading: Lk 8.16-18