The Whole school focus theme for this year is: Be Just Like Jesus

To be like Jesus is to be a person willing to put others before yourself, to seek wisdom, and to care about how you interact with all people you come across in life.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 20 September 2020

"Are you jealous because I am generous?”

Something to Think About

Today we reflect on the generosity of God and God's great love for all people. God does not

judge worth in the same way as human beings do. We often fall into the trap of judging

others. Can you think of a time that you have judged someone a little too harshly this week?

The Story

Today's gospel story is about a man who hired some workers to pick grapes in his vineyard.

The men who stood in the market place were there for a reason - they were waiting for work.

In Jesus' time, a man would take his tools to the market place early in the morning and wait for

someone to offer him work for the day. If a man missed out on a day's work, then his family

might starve. In the gospel today, men were hired at different times throughout the day - some

early in the morning and others late in the afternoon, but they all received the same money.

The land owner was generous to pay a full day's wage to everyone - even those who had only

worked for one hour!

The Scriptures

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 20:1-8, 10-13, 15

As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said:

 "Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day's work, he sent them off to his vineyard.

"About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. He said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went.

"At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.

"Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. Then he told them to go work in his vineyard.

"That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call them in and give them their money. The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, 'The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!'

"The owner answered one of them, 'Friend, I didn't cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on. Why should you be jealous, if I want to be generous?'"

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection on the Parable

This parable is about the generosity and compassion of God.

Even at the final hour, the owner welcomed the workers.

Those men received a day's wage even though they worked for only an hour.

This is who God is!

We cannot earn God's love - it is for God to give to us!

God's love is not payment for work done or a life well lived - it is pure gift.

Talk together about how amazing this is and praise God for such a generous love.

First Eucharist

Please keep these children and their families in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate their First Eucharist. This will be our final weekend and all the children are very excited and can’t wait to receive their First Eucharist. 

First Eucharist Blessing

May Jesus and Mary take your hand and lead the way as you come to the holy table for the first time.  May you never lack for daily bread and drink.  May you always be fully fed on God’s love.  May God bless you on this day and whenever you come to this holy table.

Peace and Best Wishes,

Anne Leet REC