The Call to Gratitude
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Sunday, September 20, 2026The Call to Gratitude25th Sunday in Ordinary TimeIn today's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some labor all day, while others arrive with only an hour left. Yet when evening comes, the landowner surprises everyone with his generosity.
At first, the story can seem unfair. But Jesus is revealing something beautiful about God: His generosity is greater than our calculations.
The workers who had been there all day were satisfied with what they had been promised—until they saw what someone else received. And we can fall into the same trap. When we compare our lives with others, we can easily lose sight of how much we ourselves have received.
Everything begins with grace. Life is a gift. Faith is a gift. The people we love, the opportunities we have been given, and the blessings that surround us are signs of God's goodness.
And as a parish family, we have much for which to be grateful: our faith, the Eucharist, our families, our school and ministries, and the many people who make St. Martin of Tours a community of prayer, welcome, and service.
Gratitude turns our eyes back toward the generosity of God.
This week, instead of dwelling on what we lack or comparing ourselves with others, let us take time each day to notice what God has already given us—and simply say, “Thank You.”
Fr. Paul