God is Generous

The WORD today reminds me that God is generous. 

God is a generous God. 

God's standards are not the same as ours. Mas mabait sya. Mas maunawain. That is why in the gospel, he gave the same benefit to those who worked little with those who worked the whole day. 

‘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?

Unfair to those who worked for the whole day? Probably, in the twisted sense of the world. We would think those who worked more should be given more. We would think that they are entitled to more since they worked more than others. If we were in their shoes, we probably would expect more, and get mad with what happened. That is what we get by comparing ourselves with others. This us what happens when we focus on ourselves. they were given what was told them when they started,  but they focused on what they feel they should have.

God is fair and did not cheat those who worked for the whole day. He just decided to be extra generous and gracious to others who came in late - like the ones who worked last and like the repentant thief crucified beside Jesus whom he brought in heaven. If the workers had not known there were late comers who got the same benefits as them, probably there wouldn't be a problem because they got what they expected. They got what they were told. However, being envious changed everything.

We can feel like this if we focus on ourselves. We have been trying to live a good life, following God, and we think that others who enjoy this world too much should go to hell. We only think of ourselves and our efforts, and not their salvation. We only focus on ourself. We feel entitled. Probably we are envious of them – that they enjoy this world, yet if they repent on the last minute, they can still go to heaven.

Unfair?

Looking at our lives, we have enough. We can read, can write, can eat, can move about, can breathe, can work. We may not have much, but we have what we need to survive. We have what we need to serve and love God. We should be contented, right? Problem is when we look at other people and see things they have that we don't. That's when things change. That’s when we feel envious. That’s when we feel God is unfair.

Am I happy with my life? Do I look at what others have in life? Do I compare my life and my blessings with others? Do I realize that God is very generous? Do I take it against God that he is generous to others as well? What is God telling me today?

May we focus on God, his generosity and grace, and not on our own concerns, wants, and feeling of envy towards others. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for your blessings. Thank you for your generosity. Lord, sorry for the times I focus on myself and not on you. Sorry for the times I look at what others have, and compare myself with them, instead of being grateful for all my blessings. Lord, I  ask your help me focus on your blessings and not on what other people have. Help me focus on you. May I always be contented, knowing how much you love me and how much you have been providing for me, and not look at what other people have. As I experience your love and blessings, may I also want to share you to others and may I want other people to be saved as well. Amen. 

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

August 21 2019

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Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
Lectionary: 421

Reading 1 JGS 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 PS 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

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 gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
You made him a blessing forever,
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.
R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Alleluia HEB 4:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and effective,
able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 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."