The gospel for Wednesday of the 20th week in Ordinary Time is taken from St. Matthew, 20th chapter, first through the 16th verse. 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 the vineyard. Going out about 9 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 at noon and around 3 o’ clock and did likewise.

Going out about 5 o’, clock, he found others standing around and said to them, why do you stand here idly all day? They answered, because no one has hired us. He said to them, you two go into the vineyard. When it was evening, the owner of the vineyard said to the foreman, summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first. When those who 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’m not cheating you. Did I not agree with you 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? Or are you envious because I am generous?

Thus, the last will be first and the first will be last. We learn two things about the work of Jesus in our life. He longs for us to work with him, to be in his vineyard. Being used by God to accomplish great things, there is no reason for competition. We learn also because there is a generosity in God that will give it to someone who’s worked forever for it and someone who just said, I want it. Salvation is God’s work, not ours, and we need him to be generous.

Satan Closing PRAYER Heavenly Father, it’s clear that you have revealed your son as one who consistently calls us into a work into his vineyard. And what he needs us to understand is how we are used or who gets what gift is not our business. We need to take joy in others example and not want what they have, but only what we need and God has given us. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.