MATTHEW 20:1-16 THE WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD.
“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.’ …he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?….’ 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 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? am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’
REFLECTION Do I resent God’s generosity with others or do I rejoice in the blessings and gifts of others?
MATTHEW 22:1-14 THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING FEAST
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.” Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then, he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found….,
But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
REFLECTION what a privilege it is to be called…… but I need to be dressed appropriately…nothing sullied enters the wedding feast…my attire and behavior must fit such a solemn occasion….am I getting prepared for the wedding feast to come…will I be accepted by the King of kings….
Mark 4:26-29 THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
“The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows–how, he himself does not know. “The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
REFLECTION The Spirit goes where it wills….God is sower of the seed…God knows when it takes root…and supplies the nutrients to nurse the seed to full bloom in us until we are transformed…we pray to let it be so…let us be good stewards…God wills that all will be saved! Say yes!
MATTHEW 13:31-35,44-46 KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE BURIED TREASURE
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. kingdom of heaven is a treasure…worth leaving everything behind…a pearl of great price…
REFLECTION Am I willing to give my all to God….He has given His All to me…His very self that I might be saved…what return do I make for that!
Mark 4:3034 THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED
“How shall we picture the kingdom of God….,”It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that‘ birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches and nest under its shade.” “
REFLECTION The kingdom of heaven grows mightily under God’s providence…it provides us refuge…Come you that are burdened seek my rest and peace…be united with me and know all will be well
MATTHEW 13:47-52 THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A NET CAST INTO THE SEA
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,
REFLECTION In this world the wicked and righteous will coexist but when the eternal kingdom comes (end of the age), the sheep and goats will be separated…may we be among the sheep who hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy lord.” Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life…come follow Jesus!
MATTHEW 13:33 THE PARABLE OF THE YEAST
He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast* that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:*“I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.l
REFLECTION We are the leaven in God’s hands….we are the clay in the Potter’s hands….first we are transformed….then the world….as the Spirit moves over the land and water to all nations….let us pray the Lord’s prayer…thy kingdom come, thy will be done….let it be so!
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