Daily Readings - August 17, 2011 - Wednesday

Saint Clare of Montefalco

First Reading: Judges 9:6-15

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Holy Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Holy Gospel:

1 This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the workers a salary of a silver coin for the day, and sent them to his vineyard.

3 He went out again at about nine in the morning, and seeing others idle in the square, 4 he said to them: ‘You, too, go to my vineyard and I will pay you what is just.’ So they went.

The owner went out at midday and again at three in the afternoon, 5 and he did the same. 6 Finally he went out at the last working hour – it was the eleventh – and he saw others standing there. So he said to them: ‘Why do you stay idle the whole day?’ 7 They answered: ‘Because no one has hired us.’ The master said: ‘Go and work in my vine­yard.’

8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager: ‘Call the workers and pay them their wage, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ 9 Those who had come to work at the eleventh hour turned up and were given a denarius each (a silver coin). 10 When it was the turn of the first, they thought they would receive more. 11 But they, too, received a denarius each. So, on receiving it, they began to grumble against the landowner.

12 They said: ‘These last hardly worked an hour, yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the day’s burden and heat.’ 13 The owner said to one of them: ‘Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on a denarius a day? 14 So take what is yours and go. I want to give to the last the same as I give to you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do as I please with my money? Why are you envious when I am kind?’

16 So will it be: the last will be first, the first will be last.”

First Reading:

6 Then all the lords of Shechem and the whole council assembled together by the oak at the pillar in Shechem, and proclaimed Abimelech king.

7 When Jotham was told about this, he went to the top of Mount Gerizim. There he cried out to them, “Listen to me, lords of Shechem, that God may listen to you!

8 The trees once set out to find and anoint a king. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’ 9The olive tree answered, ‘Am I going to renounce the oil by which – thanks to me – gods and people are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

10 The trees said to the fig tree: ‘Come and reign over us.’ 11 The fig tree answered them, ‘Am I going to renounce my sweetness and my delicious fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 The trees said to the vine: ‘Come and reign over us.’ 13 The vine answered, ‘Am I go­ing to renounce my juice which cheers gods and people to hold sway over the trees?’

14 Then the trees said to the bramble bush: ‘Come, reign over us.’ 15 The bram­ble bush answered the trees, ‘If you come in sincerity to anoint me as your king, then come near and take shelter in my shade; but if not, let fire break out of the bramble bush to devour even the cedars of Lebanon.’

Responsorial Psalm

2 The king rejoices in your strength, O Lord, and exults in your saving help.

3 You have granted him his desire; you have not rejected his request.

4 You have come to him with rich blessings; you have placed a golden crown upon his head.

5 When he asked, you gave him life – length of days forever and ever.

6 He glories in the victory you gave him; you shall bestow on him splendor and majesty.

7 You have given him eternal blessings, and gladdened him with the joy of your presence.