'Tis the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses six thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five (R/. eighteen[a]), verses two & three, eight & nine, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter one, verses twenty(c) thru twenty-four & twenty-seven(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses one thru sixten(a).
Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, the parable of the vineyard that Jesus tells in today’s Gospel is one of the most disturbing of all. Keep in mind that upsetting us is one of the main purposes of a parable, stories that invent new worlds by inverting this one.Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U. S. C. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
We know the outline of the story well: a landowner goes out to hire workers for his field, hiring them at different times during the day. Then, at the close of work, he pays each the same wage. When those hired earlier complain, the owner contends, “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?”
Do any of us really find this answer satisfying? Don’t most of us instinctually side with the complainers? Have you noticed that the one virtue that even little children seem implicitly to understand is justice: “It’s just not fair!” Well, this just doesn’t seem fair.
But we should squint at this story through the lens of the prophet Isaiah’s reminder that God’s ways are not our ways. Does this story represent an undermining of justice? No; rather, it is a showing forth of the justice that flows from God’s vision of things.
Video reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire): Sunday Sermon.
Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"We must have our own deep, continual inward life of prayer, of faith, of charity. Without that we cannot participate usefully & wisely in the rebirth & reflowering of the liturgy. We cannot think, beathe, act, suffer, & fully hope with the living pilgrim Church. We must pray."Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
—Pope St.Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)
"Forgiveness is at the heart of healthy relationships. Excuse rather than accuse. Forgive & ask to be forgiven. Forgiveness is a beautiful gift to give to those who hurt us."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
"From my prison, the 19th of November, 1927. I shall probably never see you again in this life. It is God who disposes it thus. I accept His designs & I bless Him for all of them. I have never judged myself necessary! I am nothing but a poor instrument in the hands of God. If He no longer wishes to use me, it is because He wishes to take up another!"
—Bl. Miguel Pro, S.J. (1891-1927, feast: 23 November)
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