Faith Daily | 17 August 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p570

Almighty God,

you have given your only son

to be for us both a sacrifice for sin

and also an example of godly life:

give us grace that we may always thankfully receive

the benefits of his sacrifice,

and also daily endeavour

to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 20:1-16a

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Kathy Allen

“It’s not fair!! She got the same as me and she didn’t do ANYTHING”! How many times have we as adults heard that plaintive cry from the children we know and maybe from some of the adults we know too? This parable is a particularly challenging one in that it asks us to put all ego aside and be grateful for the opportunities that God gives us. Of course, it is only human to struggle with this idea. We have a sense of justice that is more man-made than God-given. As a society, we are quick to laud those who give to us and quick to punish those who take from us.

To bear the ‘burden and the heat of the day’ is never easy. It is difficult to realise that God’s giving to others does not diminish us in God’s eyes. It can be a constant challenge to give ourselves over to God’s will.

God’s love does not come with a balance sheet – one blessing for one good deed. God’s love and forgiveness go to those whom He chooses. Whether or not you have been a ‘believer’ all your life or come to God with your last breath, His love and acceptance are the same. God’s love is generous, His gift to us is hope and His love for those who follow Him is everlasting.

FINAL PRAYER “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Love Divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heav’n, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion,

pure, unbounded love thou art.

Visit us with thy salvation;

enter every trembling heart.

Charles Wesley, written 1747

Amen.