1st Week after Holy Cross

Revelation 2:18-29 To Thyatira
A Reading from the Book of Revelation. Father, give your blessing.
Pause for the blessing, then read:
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words
of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are
like burnished bronze: “I know your works — your love, faith, service,
and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the
first. But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who
calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to
practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time
to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication. Beware, I am
throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am
throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings; and I will
strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the
one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as
your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold
this teaching, who have not learned what some call ‘the deep things of
Satan,’ to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden; only hold
fast to what you have until I come. To everyone who conquers and continues
to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations;
to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered — even
as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers
I will also give the morning star. Let anyone who has an ear listen to
what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Praise be to God always!

Matthew 20:1-16 The Workers in the Vineyard
Let us be attentive to the Gospel of Life and Salvation of our Lord Jesus
Christ as recorded by the apostle Matthew.
The Lord Jesus says:
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early
in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with
the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.
When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in
the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard,
and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out
again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 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?’ They said to him,
‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the
vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his
manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the
last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock
came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first
came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received
the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled
against the landowner, 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.’ 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? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last
the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with
what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So
the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
This is the truth. Peace be with you.