Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary Parish issued the following announcement on Sept. 20

Our mother the Church presents us this Sunday with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. When I hear “workers in the vineyard” I naturally associate it with the Church (maybe because of a song I learned when I was a kid), and with all of us. We the baptized should be working to renew, expand and strengthen the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth, starting with ourselves.

The kingdom of God is in our heart (Lk 17,20), and it’s easier to change our own heart than someone else’s. It is impossible for everyone in the vineyard to work with the same intensity: some are sleeping, others dragging their feet, others walking or running, still others flying. We need to call to mind that the Lord repays everyone according to his or her deeds.

In this respect He is infinitely just because he weighs the heart and gives them what they deserve. But thinking deeply, He is not just. He is merciful, (justice and mercy are opposed): He has not dealt with us as our sins merit, nor requited us as our wrongs deserve (Ps 103,10).

On the contrary, gracious is the Lord and righteous. Yes, our God is merciful (Ps 116,5). He is so gracious that He sent His Son to die for us and to repay with His precious blood the debt we were totally unable to repay. Not only that but He wanted our cooperation in His work of redemption. He repays our labor and toil for His bride with a salary of Glory: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us (Rom 8,18).

Let us implore the Lord to give us His love and with our hearts inflamed, bear our share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God (2Tim 1,8).

Original source can be found here.