Ezequiel
34:1-11 – Israel’s False Shepherds
Thus
says the Lord God, “I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at
their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds
feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not
be food for them.
Matthew
20-1:16 – The Labourers in the Vineyard
For
the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to
hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual
daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine
o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market place; and said to them “You
also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went.
When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same, 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?” They said to him, “Because no
one has hired us.” He said to them you also go into the vineyard. When evening
came, the owner of the vineyard said to his anger, “Call the laborers, and give
them their pay, beginning the last and then going to the first.” When those
hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual day wage. Now when
the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also
received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against
the landowner, 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.” But
he replied to them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me
for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go: I choose to give to
this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with
what belongs to me? Are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first,
and the first will be last.”
Father Michael Coutts said his
reflection about the book of Ezequiel contained bizarre or weird stories but God
intervened and cared for the shepherds of Israel. God spoke to them “You will
be my people. I will be your God. I myself will shepherd you.” His message is “The
Lord will protect us from enemies.”
The gospel of Matthew cited about the problems
in employment like unfair wages, unions, unfair labor treatment, etc. Father
Michael said we cannot look at the generosity of the world but let us put
everything to God.
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