Aug 18 2021

First reading Judges 9:6-15

The tale of the trees and their king

All the leading men of Shechem and all Beth-millo gathered, and proclaimed Abimelech king by the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem.

News of this was brought to Jotham. He came and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted aloud for them to hear:

‘Hear me, leaders of Shechem,

that God may also hear you!

‘One day the trees went out

to anoint a king to rule over them.

They said to the olive tree, “Be our king!”

‘The olive tree answered them,

“Must I forego my oil

which gives honour to gods and men,

to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the fig tree,

“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The fig tree answered them,

“Must I forego my sweetness,

forego my excellent fruit,

to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the vine,

“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The vine answered them,

“Must I forego my wine

which cheers the heart of gods and men,

to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then all the trees said to the thorn bush,

“Come now, you be our king!”

‘And the thorn bush answered the trees,

“If in all good faith you anoint me king to reign over you,

then come and shelter in my shade.

If not, fire will come from the thorn bush

and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”’

Responsorial Psalm 20(21):2-7

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king;

how your saving help makes him glad!

You have granted him his heart’s desire;

you have not refused the prayer of his lips.

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.

You came to meet him with the blessings of success,

you have set on his head a crown of pure gold.

He asked you for life and this you have given,

days that will last from age to age.

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.

Your saving help has given him glory.

You have laid upon him majesty and splendour,

you have granted your blessings to him forever.

You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

O Lord, your strength gives joy to the king.

Gospel Matthew 20:1-16

Why be envious because I am generous?

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

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Reflection
Judges 9:6-15, Matthew 20:1-16

“God gives His love to all people without exception”
In the parable, the landowner hired workers at different hours in the day, and in the end, paid them all one denarius each for their work. A normal landowner would have just paid the workers according to the hours they spent labouring in the field. This is considered fair and just according to the world. However, the landowner did not follow the ways of the world. This is point that Jesus wanted to make with this parable. God is like this landowner. His ways are not like the ways of the world. He goes beyond justice and acts based on mercy and love by not treating us according to our merits and what we deserve. Instead, God generously and lavishly pours His mercy and love to all, including to those we regard as undeserving.

As we pray, let us experience the inexhaustible and lavish love of God our Father. Let us allow ourselves to be loved by Him so that we can learn how to share His love with those around us generously.

Question for reflection:
How can I apply this parable to my life?

Renungan
Hakim 9:6-15, Matius 20:1-16

“Tuhan memberikan kasihNya kepada semua orang tanpa terkecuali”
Dalam perumpamaan hari ini, tuan tanah telah mengupah pekerja-pekerjanya untuk bekerja pada masa yang berbeza-beza, dan akhirnya membayar upah mereka dengan jumlah yang sama iaitu masing-masing menerima satu dinar untuk pekerjaan yang telah mereka lakukan. Tuan tanah yang normal akan membayar upah menurut jumlah waktu yang telah mereka habiskan untuk bekerja di ladang. Ini dianggap adil dan saksama menurut pandangan dunia. Namun, tuan tanah tidak mengikuti jalan dunia. Inilah perkara yang Yesus ingin sampaikan dalam perumpamaan ini. Allah adalah seperti tuan tanah. CaraNya tidak seperti cara dunia. Dia melampaui keadilan dan bertindak berdasarkan belas kasihan dan kasih dengan tidak memperlakukan kita berdasarkan jasa dan apa yang layak kita terima. Sebaliknya, Allah dengan penuh kemurahan hati mencurahkan rahmat dan kasihNya kepada semua termasuk mereka yang kita anggap tidak layak menerimanya.
Dalam doa ini, marilah mengalami kasih Allah Bapa yang melimpah dan tidak pernah habis. Marilah membenarkan diri kita dikasihiNya agar kita dapat belajar cara mengongsikan kasihNya kepada orang-orang di sekeliling kita.

Soalan renungan:

Bagaimana saya dapat mempraktikkan perumpamaan ini dalam hidup?

*Tingganai ru Bansa’ 9:6-15; Matius 20:1-16*

Paat ri Aki Kapuuno’ mamarinta, baal no koson ra sangulun tatangan ra umo ru anggur. Rumondom io mingkual maguyum ra mangngandoi ra umo nano. Mangiou io mambayar risilo ra rondo’ ruit pirok sangulun songorou ondo’ masaga’ mangandoi. Ilo pana pinatalimpuun paat ragili niayuk. Paat ra jam kasiam ra iosusuab, tatangan ra umo i minongoi poyo ra pasar am kakito no kukula’ ngaulun kolondo’ kandoi nanturung ra giu’ i. Kono risilo, ‘Ongoi kau pangandoi ra umo kuno. Aniin takamin ra gaji’ ru kuli’.’ Ilo pana minongoi boo pangandoi. Paat ra tanga’ ru orou am poyo jam katalu ra iomamai’, ongoi poyo tatangan ra umo i ra pasar am tiluo’ no niayuk koson ra ongoi galing nani. Mamaar jam kalimo ra iomamai’ ongoi io poyo ra pasar i, am pakakito io mokoondo’ poyo kukula’ ngaulun kolondo’ kandoi sabibigor ra giu’ i. Panfkuot io risilo, ‘Kua ponsongorou kau sabibigor am kolondo’ atan-atan kondoyon?’ Taam ulun-ulun i, ‘Sabap ra kolondo’ ulun mangkimait ramon mangandoi.’ ‘Amon ru koson raginio,’ kon ru tatangan ra umo i, ‘Ongoi kau pangandoi ra umo kuno.’ Paat ra lumondom, indagu tatangan ra umo i ra mandur ru ulun-ulun mangngandoi i, ‘Piawo’ ngaangai’ mangngandoi am gajii’ noyo, intor ra piniau ku mangandoi ra mamai’ ti saboi ra ondo’ nangandoi intor ra susuab i!’ Ulun ondo’ nangandoi intor ra jam kalimo ra mamai’ i ngaangai’ nakaalap rondo’ ruit sangulun. Ratong boo ondo’ nangandoi intor ra susuab i, giang nilo makaalap ra gaji’ mologo koborok. Kaa’ ngaangai’ ilo ti inanian rondo’ ruit pirok ayuk. Paat ra ilo nangapu ra gaji’ nilo, bubutok ilo ayuk ra tatangan ra umo i. Konilo, ‘Nangandoi ra pupus ti sanjam ayuk, am akai nonsongorou nangandoi ra orou mapangit, kaa’ nanaak kou risilo nogondo’ niayuk ramon!’ Tatangan ra umo ru anggur ti timinaam ra sangulun intor ra nangkuot no: ‘Rangan, pai’ ru namparuung aku ramuyun. Sala’ ka kia nangiou kou ra gaji’ rondo’ ruit pirok songorou? Alapo’ gaji’ muno am uli’ no. Amon ru masaga’ aku, manaak aku ra nangandoi pupus ti nogondo’ niayuk rirun. Maaru’ makapanaak aku maya’ ra guang kuno am ruit kuno galama’! Kua sangit kau ra kinataau ru guang kuno?’ Koson niayuk ra ulun ondo’ kalo maatang, masauk ilo ra maatang: am ulun ondo’ maatang masauk ra kalo maatang.”
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Mampataak i Aki Kapuuno’ ra togom Nano ra ngaangai’ ulun ra kalo mailiwan
Ralalom abig no, tatangan ra umo nampagaji’ ra ulun mangngandoi ondo’ nasusuai jam ralalom songorou, am pupus no, nambayar risilo ngaangai’ rondo ruit pirok sangulun ra kandoi nilo. Kaindalaman ru tatangan ra umo mambayar ayuk ra mangngandoi sumugut ra kula’ nganjam ilo nangandoi giu’ ra umo. Gitio nakasimpung ra matimpok am motopot sumugut ra tana’ ti. Kabalu’ pana raginio, tatangan ra umo no kalo minaya’ ra ralan ru tana’ ti. Gitio kuayan ra masaga’ i Jisus mambaal ra abig ti. I Aki Kapuuno’ koson ra tatangan ra umo no. Ralan Nano kalo koson ra ralan ru tana’ ti. Io makasail ra katimpakan am mambaal mimpuun ra makaasi’ am togom ra kalo umparaan takau sumugut ra moondo’ takau am atan ondo’ matimpok ritakau. Kaa’, i Aki Kapuuno’ mataau am maulian. Makaasi’ am togom Nano ra ngaangai’, makasimpung ilo ondo’ karaan ra kalo maaya’.
Liliwa’ ra itakau makiasi’, ibok ili’ takau ra togom ri Aki Kapuuno’ Ama’ takau ondo’ kolondo’ balit am maulian. Ibok takau mangiou ra itakau galama’ tagamin Nano maa’ raginio mabuli takau migila’ magapu ra togom Nano ra ulun ra liput takau ra kataawan.
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Pangkuatan ra paguangin:
Ati kulaan aku mampaguang ra abig ragitio ralalom kaayagan kuti?

Renungan
Pengulu 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16

“Allah Taala nurunka pengerindu Iya ngagai semua mensia enggau nadai beciping.”
Dalam jako sempama, orang ti bempu kebun ngaji orang gawa ba kebun iya nadai nitih ka maya tang mayar gaji sida sesingkap duit pirak siko. Enti orang ti bempu kebun bukai tentu mayar nitih ka penyampau jam orang gaji gawa ba kebun. Tu dikira adil nitih ka atur dunya. Tang, orang ti bempu kebun tu enda nitih ka jalai dunya. Tu meh tuju jako ajar Jesus. Allah Taala baka tuai ti bempu kebun tu. Jalai Iya enda baka jalai dunya. Iya jauh besai agi ari pengelurus sereta ngereja nunda ka pengasih enggau pengerindu Iya ukai ari kereja badas kitai tauka ungkup ari pengawa kitai. Allah Taala bemurah ati sereta meri kitai pengasih enggau pengerindu Iya belipat-lipat atas semua orang nyengkaum sida ti dikumbai kitai enda patut nerima berekat nya.

Lebuh kitai besembiang, awak ka kitai ngasaika pengerindu Allah Taala Apai ti besai. Awak kitai meri diri awak dikerindu Iya ngambi ulih bekunsi ngagai orang bukai.

Kati aku ulih bejadi ka jako sempama tu dalam pengidup aku?

省思

«民九:6-15»
«玛廿:1-16»

“主的恩赐不分彼此，一视同仁 “
在福音里，雇主在一天内以不同的时刻聘请雇工，到了晚上，雇主给每一个雇工一个“德纳”作为酬劳。普通的雇主会根据雇工工作的小时来平分酬劳，而这样的计算是公义也符合世俗标准。然而，福音的雇主并不按常理出牌，这就是耶稣要在这比喻上点出的。天主就是这雇主，祂不会根据世俗的要求行事。祂超越公正，却以爱及慈悲为基础。祂不会看我们的优势来评断我们。反之，天主慷慨地倾注祂的爱与仁慈，包括我们认为那些不堪被接纳的人。
在祈祷中，让我们经验天父的鸿爱。让我们允许自己被祂爱。这样，我们才能把祂的爱分享给我们周遭的人。

省思题：
我如何在生命中实践这比喻？

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD.