Today’s the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Find the Mass Readings here: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 24, 2017

My takeaway:

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

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Several thoughts came to mind during this weekend'a readings. But, the biggest thought I had centered on the Gospel Reading from Matthew 20:1-16. In the Gospel we hear about the laborers who work a full day, only to see their counterparts who worked for about an hour (my interpretation) receive the same amount of pay as the full day laborers. And, understandably, the full-day workers get a little upset. . . . What struck me, though, was how applicable this is to our eternal reward, and our goal of entrance into heaven! God reveals Himself to each of us on His own time, and how easily it could be for me to be wounded if I felt another, "newer" Christian jumped the line to what I felt was my birthright – my heritage. . . . And, yet, what does Christ say about the last being first? That *the last shall be first* to enter the Kingdom of heaven! Go back to the beatitudes, folks – those who struggle, those who mourn, those who face obstacles will find themselves richly, and timely, rewarded when it comes to the end of our earthly lives! . . . So, if you are like me, and sometimes struggle with wondering how someone else appears to deserve something you felt entitled to, I'm here to say you're normal for feeling that way. But, I'm also here to challenge you – to recognize the gift you have been given in waiting for God to reveal His plan for you. If He has revealed Himself, and His reward to another person first, it doesn't mean you will receive the shaft. His love is plenty big enough to go around! . . . Isaiah 55:8 sums it up perfectly, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord." He will not abandon us, and He has great plans for each and every one of us. . . . Be patient for His goodness to unfurl. . . . #mysundaybest w/ @rosiehill425 #mymasstakeaway w/ @tojesussincerely #inspiration #catholicblogger #catholicsofinstagram #beautifulcamouflage #gospelmessage #firstreading #proudcatholic

A post shared by Anni Harry (@beautifulcamouflagedmess) on Sep 23, 2017 at 8:49pm PDT

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When my dad was dying, I tried to convince him he wasn't. . . "You have books to read. Grandchildren to meet. You've been through illness before." . . He leaned back on the pillows. Smiled. His weathered hand took mine and squeezed it. . . "Pumpkin. 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, my ways.' God knows what he's doing. You need to let him." . . Daddy? . . You were right. . . And something else – I miss you. . . #mysundaybest #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Ginny Kochis •Not So Formulaic (@ginnykochis) on Sep 24, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

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Happy Sunday, friends! It's a beautiful (hot) fall day and I'm joining @tojesussincerely for #mymasstakeaway and @rosiehill425 for #mysundaybest 💙 Today's readings are so beautiful; some of my favorites. Such good news for sinful humans like me! 🙋🏼God is wildly generous in mercy, always at the ready to lavish us with His love. Not because He needs us to say "I'm sorry," not because He gains anything from our repentance. But because *we* need the grace of new spiritual life that comes from humbly begging for His forgiveness. He is perfectly just, but He so graciously longs to give us what we need more than what we deserve: His love dictates His justice. Thank God His ways are not our ways. 💙#MyMassTakeaway

A post shared by Lydia – Flourish In Hope (@flourish_hope) on Sep 24, 2017 at 10:37am PDT

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Did you know that on average 90% of the work of a parish is done by 6-7% of the parishioners? Our parish had their discipleship fair after all masses this Sunday. The idea is that Jesus didn’t say “go make volunteers of all nations” but “disciples of all nations”. As our pastor said in his homily, this isn’t about just getting the work done. If it was, God would have sent the angels and got it done better and faster. It takes all of us committing to something to make a vibrant community. There is something unique and important each of us can bring to the work of the parish. Even busy moms with lots of tiny kids. To use today’s Gospel: Are you one of the 6% of the workers already working in the vineyard or are you one of the 93% still in the marketplace? #mymasstakeaway with @tojesussincerely #mysundaybest with @rosiehill425 Bump: 40 weeks (due date was yesterday. 😒)

A post shared by Kirby Hoberg (@underthyroof) on Sep 24, 2017 at 12:07pm PDT

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It's all about what you do with your eleventh hour. That was #mymasstakeaway and #lovethewordtakeaway in today's homily. Our priest reminded us in the parable of the vineyard laborers that in the original text, 5:00 p.m would have been the eleventh hour. As in that popular phrase for procrastinating souls: waiting until the eleventh hour to get a task done. Just when I was sitting in my pew feeling pretty smug that I am not one of "those people", he then admonished the congregation unexpectedly that Jesus came for all sinners – outside of time – and relayed to us the numerous times as a priest that he has been called to give last rites and hear one last confession – sometimes summing up decades of sin. But there is no "perfect time" on this earthly journey. The laborer early to the vineyard and the worker hired at the eleventh hour will all be judged by the Master when their time comes. And always with great Mercy and tenderness for those who – like the prodigal son – return home to the joyous embrace of the Father while they still have time to travel there.✝️#tojesussincerely #biblestudyevangelista #catholiclife #catholicwomen #catholicandchocolate #mercy #catholicsofinstagram #shereadstruth #sparksthroughstubble

A post shared by Julie Habiger (@sparksthroughstubble) on Sep 24, 2017 at 3:32pm PDT

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#MyMassTakeaway for Sunday ended up in my journal because it was so cool, both the bible readings and the homily. The reading from Isaiah 55: 6-9 teaches so much and it's a good to go verse for when things in life don't make too much sense: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. And so the Gospel reading from Matthew 20:1-16 shows us that our ways are not His ways in The story of The landowner who hires workers to help him in his vineyard. The #homily goes something like this: Think about what Jesus is proposing, His "business plan": equal pay for unequal work. His ways just don't make sense! BUT we learn from Isaiah that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. In our perspective it is not just, but we are missing the point. God's generosity is RADICAL, too radical for us to understand. He is generous beyond comprehension to ALL of us. Sometimes all we have to do is REMEMBER His blessings in the past or even a few hours ago and be grateful and mirror His generosity. If you still struggle, bring it up in prayer to Christ, he will help. At Mass we are informed of God's generosity and then see it in the Holy Eucharist – His unimaginable generosity. Mirror his generosity, be grateful because He gives generously to all. . The first journal is what I take to mass for notes. In the second one I elaborate at home and write down in a legible way my notes 🙂 Have a great week everyone! . . #biblejournaling #faith #faithjournal #art #ingridblixt #TB2G #thewordofgod #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #sermon #homily #generosity #matthew20 #radical #hisway #trust #jesus #catholic #catholicartist

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on Sep 25, 2017 at 8:53am PDT

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Sorry folks, this is gonna be a long one. In case you're short on time, I'll give a one-liner. #MyMassTakeaway is am I allowing my personal relationship with Christ to influence how I live, or am I staying spiritually idle? This was a very spirit-filled weekend. Saturday, I attended a seminar on discipleship that focused on kerygma. It was a fantastic seminar, and I am so excited to apply what I've learned. Yesterday, I went to Mass. Our priest always comes in a bit before the Mass to do some quick catechesis. This week, he talked about a personal relationship with God. It was interesting because this was also discussed in my seminar. As Catholics, we tend to shy away from this phrase, thinking it is a Protestant thing. That couldn't be further from the truth. All of us are called to an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus. As Catholics, we literally receive Christ at every Mass. Talk about intimate! In the homily, Fr. Michael talked about idleness. When we listen to the gospel reading, it seems odd that there were people idle in the marketplace. That's a pretty bustling place. But in our own lives, how often are we constantly busy but staying spiritually idle? #catholic #faith #Christianblogger #CatholicsofInstagram #FaithBlogger #catholicblogger #csmi

A post shared by Kate Hendrick (@stumblingtowardsainthood) on Sep 25, 2017 at 8:10am PDT

Your turn:

I want to know your Msass takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.