Jesus told his disciples this parable: "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 marketplace; and he 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 manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily 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 one of 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? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, as I begin this prayer I ask you to open my heart and mind to listen to your invitation to work in your vineyard. Why you have looked upon me and chosen me for this great privilege, I don't know. But help me to be generous in giving whatever you ask of me.

Petition: Lord Jesus, sometimes I am afraid to give you my all because I am afraid of what you will ask of me. Help me to experience your presence throughout the day and understand that it is by giving that I receive

1. The Call to Work in the Vineyard. The landowner needs workers for his vineyard. Going out to the marketplace, where there are all kinds of people, he invites all the workers he can find. We are all invited to be apostles in the Lord's vineyard. Some might think they don't have enough talent, others that they are just too young to be able to do anything for Christ, and still others that the task is just too much for them. But Christ doesn't ask for excuses; he asks for workers filled with generosity and love. He will take care of the rest. He is the one who calls us and he is the one who produces the results, not us. What a joy and privilege to be called by the Lord to be a worker in his vineyard, especially when we fulfill our task out of love.

2. Turning the Tables. We complain so easily about the problems we see around us: the lack of values, the violence , the evil men do. Then in our prayer we say to God, "Look at the world. Why don't you do something about it?" If we were to listen a little more closely to God in prayer we would probably hear him reply, "Why are you standing here idle all day?" Perhaps we have never considered that there was anything that we could do or spent time in prayer listening to God's reply. Our Lord looks at each of us and says, "You also go into the vineyard." Some are called early; some are called later. It doesn't matter when, what does matter is that we respond when we are called and to whatever mission we are called.

3. The Surprising Salary. Go ahead and ask the question Peter did, in the passage just prior to this parable (Matthew 19:27-30): "What can I expect from this?"  We will always find that Christ is the best bargain in the marketplace! He promises us the full wage, even if we were called at the last hour. Whatever we sacrifice for him, he promises us 100% in this life plus eternal life. So really, the sky is the limit. Christ never obliges; he only invites. It is important never to forget that by helping God to save souls we save our own. This is the way to build up a treasure in heaven.

Conversation: Lord, today I hear your call more clearly than ever to be your apostle. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work in your vineyard. I know there will be moments of difficulty and weakness. Give me your grace and strength, and then ask of me what you please. Here I am, Lord. I have come to do your will. Make me your apostle.

Questionnaire

1. What has Christ asked of me so far in my life? How have I responded to him in the past?

2. What is Christ asking of me today? What am I willing to give him? What is keeping me from saying yes to all he asks and writing him a total blank check?

3. In what daily circumstances do I come out of myself to bring Christ to others? How do I take advantage of the opportunities presented to me during my daily life, in order to be a good apostle?