Matthew

This story sheds light on the kingdom of heaven: A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

He agreed to pay each worker the standard daily wage and sent them to his vineyard.

He went out again around nine in the morning, and seeing others idling in the town square,

he said to them, ‘You also go to my vineyard, and I will pay you what is right.’

So they went. The owner went out at midday and again at three in the afternoon, making the same offer both times.

Again, he went out at the last working hour—the eleventh—and saw others standing around. So he asked them, ‘Why do you stand idle all day?’

They replied, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ The master said, ‘Go and work in my vineyard.’

When evening arrived, the vineyard owner told his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last and ending with the first.’

Those who had arrived to work at the eleventh hour came forward and each received a silver coin.

When it was the first person’s turn, they thought they would get more.

But they also received one silver coin. Upon receiving it, they began complaining about the landowner.

They said, ‘These last ones hardly worked an hour; yet you have treated them the same as us who have endured the heavy work of the day and the heat.’

The owner said to one of them, ‘Friend, I have not been unjust to you. Did we not agree on one silver coin per day?

So, take what is yours and leave. I want to give the last the same as I give to you.

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what’s mine? Why are you jealous when I am kind?

So it will be: the last will be first, the first will be last.”

Third Announcement of the Passion and Resurrection

When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he pulled the twelve disciples aside and said to them:

“See, we are heading to Jerusalem. There, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and they will condemn him to death.

They will hand him over to the foreigners, who will mock him, scourge him, and crucify him. But he will be raised to life on the third day.”

Then the mother of James and John approached Jesus with her sons and knelt down to request a favor.

Jesus asked her:

“What do you want?”

She replied:

“Here are my two sons. Grant that they may sit, one at your right and one at your left in your kingdom.”

Jesus told the brothers:

“You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?”

They replied:

“We can.”

Jesus replied:

“You will indeed drink from my cup, but sitting at my right or left is not for me to give. That will be for those for whom my Father has prepared it.”

The other ten heard all of this and became angry with the two brothers.

Then Jesus called them to him and said: “You know that the rulers of nations act like tyrants and the powerful oppress them.

It shall not be so among you: whoever wants to be great in your community, let him minister to the community.

And if you want to be first among everyone, make yourself a servant to all.

Be like the Son of Man who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to redeem many.”

As they left Jericho, a large crowd followed them along the way.

Two blind men sat by the roadside, and when they heard Jesus was passing by, they started to call out:

“Son of David, have mercy on us!”

The people told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder:

“[Lord,] Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Jesus stopped, called out to them, and asked:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

They said:

“LORD, open our eyes.”

Jesus was moved with compassion and touched their eyes. Immediately, they regained their sight and began to follow Jesus.