Daily Mass Readings – Wednesday, 18 August 2027

6 And all the men of Sichem were gathered together, and all the families of the city of Mello: and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak that stood in Sichem.

7 This being told to Joatham, he went and stood on the top of mount Garizim: and lifting up his voice, he cried, and said: Hear me, ye men of Sichem, so may God hear you.

8 The trees went to anoint a king over them: and they said to the olive tree: Reign thou over us.

9 And it answered: Can I leave my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, to come to be promoted among the trees?

10 And the trees said to the fig tree: Come thou and reign over us.

11 And it answered them: Can I leave my sweetness, and my delicious fruits, and go to be promoted among the other trees?

12 And the trees said to the vine: Come thou and reign over us.

13 And it answered them: Can I forsake my wine, that cheereth God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?

14 And all the trees said to the bramble: Come thou and reign over us.

15 And it answered them: If indeed you mean to make me king, come ye and rest under my shadow: but if you mean it not, let fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars of Libanus.

R. (2a) Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

2 In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly.

3 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

4 For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.

5 He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

6 His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him.

7 For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance.

R. Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

1 The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2 And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3 And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle.

4 And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.

5 And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.

6 But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?

7 They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard.

8 And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.

9 When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

10 But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny.

11 And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,

12 Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.

13 But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?

14 Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.

15 Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?

16 So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

The parable of the vineyard reveals a God whose goodness cannot be measured by our calculations. The workers who came at the last hour receive the same daily wage as those who endured the heat, and their resentment exposes how quickly service can become a claim on God. The master has kept his agreement; his generosity toward another does not diminish what he has given.

Against this generosity stands the bramble in Jotham’s fable, eager to reign while offering only a dangerous shadow. The olive, fig tree, and vine recognize the value of their fruit and refuse to abandon it for empty promotion. These readings invite us to examine what kind of authority and service we seek. The true king rejoices in the Lord’s strength, receives life as a gift, and becomes a blessing. God’s living word reaches beneath our outward actions to the thoughts of the heart: the desire to be honored, the comparison that breeds resentment, and the freedom to rejoice in another’s grace. We serve faithfully when we work in God’s vineyard without turning his gifts into reasons for superiority. His justice is never separated from mercy, and his generosity teaches us to give thanks rather than keep score.

Generous Father, you call each of us into your vineyard and give more than we deserve. Purify my heart when comparison makes me resentful or when I seek recognition instead of faithful service. Help me receive my life, my work, and every blessing as gifts from your hand. Give me the humility of the fruitful trees, content to offer what you have entrusted to me, and keep me from grasping at power like the bramble. Through your living word, reveal what is hidden within me and teach me to rejoice in the grace given to others. May my service become a blessing. Amen.