The first reading contains a parable about the search of a king in Israel. In the Gospel, Jesus’s parable portrays that a good leader must possess both the virtues of justice and mercy. Ideally, only the first set of labourers deserved one denarius each. Yet the landowner gave the same amount to all the labourers including those who came late in the evening, the eleventh hour. God does not treat us according to our merits, but rather according to our needs. Our greatest need is salvation. Since he knows that we need his love and mercy to attain this, he gives these to us bountifully. Therefore, in his Church, there is no special place for the righteous and another for the sinners. Let us remember also that those whom we are going to meet today need more kindness from us than they deserve.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to go beyond the minimum requirement in giving the necessary help to our brothers and sisters. Amen.