Every December, the priests of my diocese gather for a Christmas dinner with our bishop. Nearly 200 of us in one room: newly ordained and long retired, pastors of large parishes and quiet confessors, men full of energy and others moving more slowly. Some carry visible success; others bear hidden wounds. It is a tapestry of vocations and lives. When the bishop thanks us, I am always moved. For a moment, none of our differences matter. What matters is that we belong to one another.
I usually leave that evening with a deep sense of peace, but also with a sober realization. Nothing drains joy from the vineyard of the Lord faster than comparison. The quiet habit of measuring, ranking, and resenting can creep in even among those who sincerely serve God.
That is what Jesus exposes in today’s parable of the workers in the vineyard. The early laborers are not upset because they were treated unjustly; they are angry because others were treated generously. Their resentment blinds them to the gift already in their hands. When the landowner asks, “Are you envious because I am generous?” he names the real wound.
This tension echoes throughout salvation history: the elder brother resenting the prodigal, the faithful servant scorning the latecomer. Jesus does not deny the labor of those who have borne the heat of the day, but he refuses to let God’s mercy become a zero-sum game.
In the end, the vineyard’s reward is not about fairness but belonging. The joy offered is communion with a generous Father, who delights in gathering early and late, strong and weak, into one household of grace.
— Father John Muir
©LPi
General Mass Notes
Welcome
Good afternoon and welcome to St. Joseph,
As we begin our liturgy, we would like to extend a special welcome to everyone visiting our parish for the first time. We also warmly welcome all of you who are here today. We are so grateful and blessed to have you with us. As we settle in and prepare our hearts for Mass, please take a moment to make sure your cell phones are turned off so as not to disturb our prayer.
(Wait a few seconds to allow people to turn off their phones)
Let us now take a moment to prepare for Mass and open our hearts and minds to the message we will hear today. The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and for…
Please stand and greet those beside you.
Mass Intentions
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
For the Church, that we may welcome all those who seek the Lord at any time in their lives, realizing that in the kingdom of heaven the last will be first, let us pray to the Lord.
For all those who labor in the vineyards and on the farms of this nation, that they may enjoy the blessings of satisfying work, generous landowners, and bountiful harvests, let us pray to the Lord.
For all those who teach the Catholic faith in schools, religious education and OCIA classes, and other programs, that their own faith may be strengthened as they share it with their students, let us pray to the Lord.
For all of us gathered here today, that we may challenge ourselves and each other to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
For all the prayers that we hold in the silence of our hearts; for all our intentions spoken and unspoken, and for (read all intentions from 1st page), let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
The Divine Mercy ministry and religious sisters are holding a food and religious articles sale at the Madonna Plaza. The food proceeds will be used for its ministry celebration next year.
Our parish Fiesta will take place on October 2, 3, and 4. Raffle and carnival ride tickets are available for purchase at the parish office. We are currently seeking volunteers for security and to help cook pozole. If you are interested in helping in this way, please leave your information at the parish office.
