Wednesday of the 20th week of Ordinary Time

6Then all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the families of the city of Millo, and they went and appointed Abimelech as king, beside the oak that stood at Shechem. 7When this had been reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim. And lifting up his voice, he cried out and said: “Listen to me, men of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. 8The trees went to anoint a king over themselves. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9And it responded, ‘How could I abandon my fatness, which both gods and men make use of, and depart to be promoted among the trees?’ 10And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and accept royal power over us.’ 11And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my sweetness, and my very sweet fruits, and depart to be promoted among the other trees?’ 12And the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 13And it responded to them, ‘How could I abandon my wine, which gives joy to God and men, and be promoted among the other trees?’ 14And all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’ 15And it responded to them: ‘If truly you would appoint me as king, come and rest under my shadow. But if you are not willing, let fire go forth from the bramble, and let it devour the cedars of Lebanon.’ ”

2In your virtue, Lord, the king will rejoice, and over your salvation, he will exult exceedingly.

3You have granted him the desire of his heart, and you have not cheated him of the wish of his lips.

4For you have gone ahead of him with blessings of sweetness. You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.

5He petitioned you for life, and you have granted him length of days, in the present time, and forever and ever.

6Great is his glory in your salvation. Glory and great adornment, you will lay upon him.

7For you will give him as a blessing forever and ever. You will make him rejoice with gladness in your presence.

1“The kingdom of heaven is like the father of a family who went out in early morning to lead workers into his vineyard. 2Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 4And he said to them, ‘You may go into my vineyard, too, and what I will give you will be just.’ 5So they went forth. But again, he went out about the sixth, and about the ninth hour, and he acted similarly. 6Yet truly, about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing, and he said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle all day?’ 7They say to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also may go into my vineyard.’ 8And when evening had arrived, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last, even to the first.’ 9And so, when those who had arrived about the eleventh hour came forward, each received a single denarius. 10Then when the first ones also came forward, they considered that they would receive more. But they, too, received one denarius. 11And upon receiving it, they murmured against the father of the family, 12saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’ 13But responding to one of them, he said: ‘Friend, I caused you no injury. Did you not agree with me to one denarius? 14Take what is yours and go. But it is my will to give to this last, just as to you. 15And is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Or is your eye wicked because I am good?’ 16So then, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”