READINGS FOR 15th SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Psalm: Psalm 145: 1-8
1 I will exalt you, O God my King, ♦
and bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you ♦
and praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; ♦
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another ♦
and declare your mighty acts.
5 They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, ♦
and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
6 They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, ♦
and I will also tell of your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness ♦
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, ♦
long-suffering and of great goodness.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
First Reading: Philippians 1: 21-end
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer.
23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;
24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,
26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.
29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well
30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 20: 1 – 16
1 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.
2 After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place;
4 and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went.
5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same.
6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?”
7 They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.”
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.”
9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.
11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
12 saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”
13 But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
1 I will exalt you, O God my King, ♦
and bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you ♦
and praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; ♦
his greatness is beyond all searching out.
4 One generation shall praise your works to another ♦
and declare your mighty acts.
5 They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, ♦
and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
6 They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, ♦
and I will also tell of your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness ♦
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, ♦
long-suffering and of great goodness.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
First Reading: Philippians 1: 21-end
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer.
23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;
24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.
25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,
26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.
29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well
30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 20: 1 – 16
1 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.
2 After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place;
4 and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went.
5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same.
6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?”
7 They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.”
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.”
9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.
11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
12 saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.”
13 But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
