8/17/11 cblog OUR AWARENESS OF LABOR LAWS PREVENTS US FROM UNDERSTANDING

8/17/11 cblog OUR AWARENESS OF LABOR LAWS PREVENTS US FROM TRULY UNDERSTANDING the PARABLE of the LANDOWNER ho fam, tod brown present but not preaching , m: "Think of this parable..seems unfair, but its about generosity..give thanks..god's love..our awareness of labor laws prevents us from truly understanding this parable..this is abt the kingdom..of god..god is willing to call us literally morn to eve..teaches us not to be envious

Judges 9.6-15
" All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice:"Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us. But the olive tree answered them, 'Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come; you reign over us! But the fig tree answered them'Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?' Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us. But the vine answered them'Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?' Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us! But the buckthorn replied to the trees'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith come and take refuge in my shadow Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'"

Responsorial Psalm R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad O LORD, in your strength the king is glad in your victory how greatly he rejoices You have granted him his heart's desire you refused not the wish of his lips R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad For you welcomed him with goodly blessings you placed on his head a crown of pure

Matt 20.1-16
" 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 his vineyard. Going out about nine 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 around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them‘Why do you stand here idle all day? They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ 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. When those who had 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 am not cheating you Did you not agree with me 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? Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”