Post-feast of the Transfiguration; Holy Venerable-Martyr Dometius (360- 63)
Dormition Fast. Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
1 Corinthians 13:4-14:5; Matthew 20:1-16
When we think of ‘labourers in the vineyard’ the first image that comes to mind is that of ordained ministers: deacons, presbyters and bishops. Today’s parable is speaking not only to these three ministries of the Church, but our Lord is speaking much broader. He is speaking to every baptized person who belongs to him.
Each of us who have been ‘baptized into Christ has put on Christ’ (Gal 3:27). Through our union with Christ, we are washed, made new, welcomed into God’s family and restored to a blessed state of being unto union with the Holy Trinity. Baptism and Chrismation is also a consecration, a setting apart from the world unto service to God. In the Old Testament, those who were set apart for a holy task were anointed with holy oil and dedicated to a life of service to the Living God. So too in the New Covenant, each baptized person is consecrated for service of the Lord. We belong to Christ: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor 6:19) We are all consecrated to Him and called to build up the Kingdom together.