1st Scripture Reading – Psalm 145:1-8
The Greatness and the Goodness of God
1
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall extol your works to another
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 They will recount the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works I will meditate.
6 They will proclaim the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
2nd Scripture Reading – Matthew 20:1-16
The Laborers in the Vineyard
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent
them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in
the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you
whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock,
he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he
said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’
7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has
hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
8 When evening came, the owner of
the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the
last and then going to the first.’
9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them
received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but
each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the
landowner,
12
saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us
who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
13 But he replied to one of them,
‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what
belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed
to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 So
the last will be first, and the first will be last.”