161 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY50 Before Holy Communion 1. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder” (Mt 20:1). Consider that this householder is Christ, the vineyard is the Church, the vines of the vineyard are the faithful souls, and the laborers are both secular and religious clergy, who were preceded by many, starting with the holy apostles who founded and cultivated this vineyard together with the householder, Christ Himself. Then there are the martyrs, whose blood watered the vineyard; and the virgins, whose lilies of chastity and various flowers of fragrant virtues adorned it and made it thrive. Recognize that you also have been called to this vineyard, and rejoicing in this, apply yourself in the vineyard with all the strength of your soul and body to the works of charity. Moreover, the all-good Lord of the vineyard has already prepared for you and for all His laborers the most exquisite meal, the sufficient and salutary food that is His Most Holy Body which you are about to consume. [f.24r] 2. “After agreeing” (Mt 20:2). Consider the great gentleness, goodness, clemency, and generosity of your Lord. Although He could use you in all things without pay as a slave bought with His own Blood, He nevertheless determined a wage and made an agreement with you. He expressed the greatness of this wage in these words: “you who have followed me ... will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:28-29). Therefore, shake off all torpor and negligence and get ready to work! Why do you sink into idleness? Why do you slacken? The sons of this world cross over countless seas and expose themselves to so many dangers just to acquire transient 50 This was the Third Sunday before Lent, the beginning of a time of penance in preparation for Lent. In the Novus Ordo this particular Sunday would just be a Sunday of Ordinary Time leading up to Lent. St. Stanislaus placed his reflections on the Gospel for the 6th Sunday after Epiphany after those for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost — see pages 317-319. Also see footnote 137 (p. 317), which explains more about the Sundays after Epiphany and their placement in the liturgical calendar.
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