Prayer Prompt before reading MT 20:1-16: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father is and God the Son so that I may know who I am.
“ARE YOU ENVIOUS BECAUSE I AM GENEROUS?” MT 20:1-16
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Today, we are reminded that God’s grace is not earned. It is a gift given by God. God cannot be outdone in generosity. It is not to be confused with work as the parable Jesus uses today. We must work to eat and support our families. St. Augustine said, “Work as if everything depended on you, pray as if everything depended on God.” The point is Jesus is not talking about work. He is talking about God’s grace. How do we receive grace?
First, by faith which is also a free gift from God. We believe. Second, we come to the instruments of grace which Jesus instituted on earth, the sacraments. These are given to us by priests or the bishop. The Catholic ER (Eucharist and Reconciliation) are important to receive often to fight our fallen human nature and to fight the Devil.
Third, prayer and works of mercy. Most importantly, God’s grace can be given to those who come to Him early in life or later in life. The one exception is if we think we are going to fool God by doing whatever we want and then converting on our death bed. Most people do not convert on their death bed.
God decides how He wants to give His grace. We have the ability to love God back and receive His grace as much or little as we choose. He wants us to participate in our journey to salvation, a blank canvas each day we wake. Then, we are called to share this love with others. Choose wisely!
Today’s challenge: Set a goal to receive God’s grace in the Eucharist one more time a week and go to confession every month. Put your Bible and rosary on your pillow as a reminder that God is trying to tell you something about who He is and in turn this helps you know what He made you for. Put it on the calendar or work it into your schedule. Be transformed and thank God for His generosity of grace so that we may be saved and receive the eternal reward.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; we will live again!)
I want to comment on not the main body of text itself, but the verse in the green box. “Are you envious because I’m generous?” I find that immensely powerful in a very understated way. It’s humble without being selfish, wise but not in its own head. It’s profound. It’s a profound verse, not thought by oneself, but to make the recipient of the question reflect.
Hey Jack! Thanks for commenting! Love your insight. Have a great year!