August 20, 2025 Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church
Daily Readings: Judges 9:6-15; Matthew 20:1-16
The men of Shechem crown Abimelech king after he murders all seventy sons of Jerubbaal. Abimelech is ungodly, and the people of Shechem are no better. Ironically, his coronation takes place at the very location where Joshua had placed the Book of the Law of God after confronting the people of Israel in his time (cf. Joshua 24:26).
Jotham, the lone survivor of Gideon’s family, narrates a parable to make them realize the grave mistake they have committed. In the story, the trees gather together in search of a ruler. They first approach the olive tree, then the fig tree, the vine, and finally the bramble. The olive, fig, and vine all decline the offer, choosing instead to continue producing their rich olive oil, delicious fruit, and wine to cheer gods and mortals rather than wasting time ruling over the trees. The bramble, however, accepts, with a warning: “Come and take refuge in my shade, or I will devour you.” This parable reflects the oppressive and destructive nature of Abimelech’s rule, as the bramble symbolizes his corrupt leadership and readiness to destroy anyone who opposes him.
In the Gospel, through the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Jesus illustrates God’s grace and generosity. Laborers arrive at different times to work in the vineyard, yet they are all paid the same wage, not according to the hours they worked, but according to the generosity of the landowner. This seems unfair to those who came early and grumbled, yet the landowner has every right to use his resources as he pleases. No injustice is done to anyone. The lesson is clear: there is no reason to be jealous of God’s mercy. Salvation cannot be earned by human effort alone; it is the free and undeserved gift of God’s grace.
Call to Action: God’s generosity is a lesson and a model for us. It is to be imitated, not rivaled. As St. Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). What is my plan, then?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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