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| "Deposed Christ embracing St. Bernard Clairvaux" by Francisco Ribalta, c.1600 |
Reading 1: Ezekiel 34:1-11
The word of the Lord came to me:
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel
in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:
Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel
who have been pasturing themselves!
Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,
and slaughtered the fatlings,
but the sheep you have not pastured.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick
nor bind up the injured.
You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost,
but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd,
and became food for all the wild beasts.
My sheep were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills;
my sheep were scattered over the whole earth,
with no one to look after them or to search for them.
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
As I live, says the Lord God,
because my sheep have been given over to pillage,
and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast,
for lack of a shepherd;
because my shepherds did not look after my sheep,
but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
Thus says the Lord God:
I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep
so that they may no longer pasture themselves.
I will save my sheep,
that they may no longer be food for their mouths.
For thus says the Lord God:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
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Commentary on
Ez 34:1-11
The Prophet Ezekiel addresses the victims of the Babylonian exile
for the first time. He offers an indictment against the religious leaders of Israel (“shepherds
of Israel
In consequence of this neglect on the part of the religious
leadership, God promises to supplant them and save them from with a good
shepherd (“I myself will look after and
tend my sheep.”)– seen as a prediction of the Messiah, the Son of God who
is God.
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Responsorial
Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not
want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness will follow
me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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Commentary on
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar songs in the entire psalter.
“God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a
shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's
generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is
drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).”[4]
While the theme of Shepherd is mentioned in the first strophe, the psalm really
speaks to the peace given to those who follow the Lord and place their trust in
Him, even into the “dark valley”.
The reference in the third strophe above “You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes” “occurs in an exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [5]
The reference in the third strophe above “You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes” “occurs in an exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [5]
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Gospel: Matthew 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.”
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Commentary on
Mt 20:1-16
The
parable of the Laborers Hired Late continues the dialogue from Matthew 19:30 in which the
same moral was expressed “the last will
be first, and the first will be last.” The inference here changes slightly
in that while in Matthew 19:23-30 the Lord referred to his followers, those who had
remained faithful, who would follow him into eternal life; here he broadens the
scope to imply that those called later to faithful service would receive the
same reward as those first called.
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Reflection:
The
student who studies the history of Christianity cannot help but be appalled at
some of the actions taken by church leaders at various times, supposedly in the
name of Christ. We don’t even need to
look specifically at Christian leaders; we can broaden our gaze to encompass
almost all the major faith traditions in the world. We are all, no matter how pure our
intentions, vulnerable to impulses of the evil one. His words are honey sweet and his logic seems,
to the innocent guile of the unwary, to be impeccable.
In
the case of the leaders described by Ezekiel, we can be sure that, in the situation
they were placed – conquered by Assyria, enslaved and deported, they felt the
best way to survive was to compromise their faith and turn a blind eye to the
people who adopted pagan traditions in order to assimilate with as little pain
as possible. Ezekiel rips them. He points out that God’s Kingship may not be
compromised and that the leaders who weakened and “rolled with the punches”
were to be replaced by the uncompromising faith of the Messiah.
We
understand this at a visceral level.
We’ve seen the faith of the martyrs (although, unlike many of our Muslim
brothers and sisters, we have been taught it is a sin to embrace martyrdom for
our own purposes when peaceful means of persuasion will suffice – hear the
sticky sweet voice of the evil one whispering in those young ears – “blow
yourself up and God will surely reward you” or “Kill those who will not convert”?).
But
what are we to do? We are weak and we
often fall. We take the easy path at
times and follow that voice that so seductively tells us that it’s alright to
steal if it’s for a worthy cause, or it’s alright to lust because it’s part of
love. To this Christ came with his
Gospel of love and forgiveness. The
parable of the workers who came late to the fields is a perfect example of a
concept put forward a few days ago when the motto of Venerable Bruno Lanteri
was quoted: “Nunc Chapi” or “Now I begin”.
Each time we fall and rise to try again we come to work in God’s fields
– late- knowing we will also be given the reward promised to the faithful.
Pax
[1]
ALTRE
[2]
The Picture Used Is "Deposed Christ embracing St. Bernard Clairvaux"
by Francisco Ribalta, c.1600
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4]
See NAB footnote on Psalm 23
[5]
See NAB footnote on Psalm 96
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