Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church – Lectionary: 421

Crowned by God, Not by Men

There is a subtle yet powerful truth woven through today’s readings and the Memorial of Saint Bernard: true greatness is never self-made—it is God-given. From the olive tree’s refusal to abandon its fruitful mission in Judges 9:6-15, to the psalmist’s joy in God’s power in Psalm 21, to Jesus’ radical lesson on divine generosity in Matthew 20:1-16, we are reminded that the Kingdom of God runs on an entirely different economy than the kingdoms of men. In the ancient Near East, kingship was often grasped through ambition, manipulation, or military force. Yet God’s chosen leaders were those who, like David, received their crown from His hand rather than seizing it for themselves. This contrast comes into sharp focus in Jotham’s parable, where fruitful trees refuse a crown that would compromise their God-given purpose, while the lowly buckthorn—symbolizing the unworthy ruler—offers only shallow shade and the threat of destruction. In the Gospel, Jesus further overturns human logic by rewarding latecomers to the vineyard equally with those who labored all day, revealing that in God’s Kingdom, worth is measured not by rank or length of service, but by His free and merciful will. Today we also honor Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, who lived this truth profoundly. Turning away from worldly honors, he became a spiritual giant not by chasing titles, but by seeking the face of God. His humility, wisdom, and burning love for Christ brought thousands to deeper faith. Do we measure our worth by human praise, or by the joy of God’s favor?

First Reading – Judges 9:6-15

A Warning Against Ambition

In the days of the Judges, Israel was in a fragile period without a centralized monarchy. Leaders arose temporarily, called by God to deliver the people, but the nation often fell into cycles of idolatry and political instability. Judges 9 records a tragic moment: Abimelech, son of Gideon by a concubine from Shechem, seizes power through manipulation and violence, unlike his father who refused kingship saying, “The LORD will rule over you” (Judges 8:23). In today’s passage, Jotham, the only surviving son of Gideon, speaks a parable from Mount Gerizim to warn the people about choosing an unworthy ruler. This story fits perfectly into our theme: God’s true leaders serve in humility, bearing fruit for His glory, while self-appointed rulers bring destruction.

Judges 9:6-15
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

⁶ Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and made Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.
⁷ When this was reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out in a loud voice:

“Hear me, lords of Shechem,
    and may God hear you!
⁸ One day the trees went out
    to anoint a king over themselves.
So they said to the olive tree,
    ‘Reign over us.’
⁹ But the olive tree answered them,
    ‘Must I give up my rich oil,
    whereby gods and human beings are honored,
    and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
¹⁰ Then the trees said to the fig tree,
    ‘Come; you reign over us!’
¹¹ But the fig tree answered them,
    ‘Must I give up my sweetness
    and my sweet fruit,
    and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
¹² Then the trees said to the vine,
    ‘Come you, reign over us.’
¹³ But the vine answered them,
    ‘Must I give up my wine
    that cheers gods and human beings,
    and go off to hold sway over the trees?’
¹⁴ Then all the trees said to the buckthorn,
    ‘Come; you reign over us!’
¹⁵ The buckthorn answered the trees,
    ‘If you are anointing me in good faith,
    to make me king over you,
    come, and take refuge in my shadow.
    But if not, let fire come from the buckthorn
    and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 6 – “Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and made Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem.”
This verse sets the stage for Israel’s first attempt at monarchy. Shechem was a city rich with covenant history—Abraham built an altar there (Genesis 12:6-7), and Joshua renewed the covenant there (Joshua 24). Yet here, the sacred site is desecrated by crowning a man who gained power through fratricide (see Judges 9:1-5).

Verse 7 – “When this was reported to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Hear me, lords of Shechem, and may God hear you!’”
Mount Gerizim was one of the two mountains used for proclaiming blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 27. Jotham’s cry invokes the covenant context, calling the leaders to listen not just to him but to God. His words foreshadow judgment.

Verse 8 – “One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’”
The olive tree, a symbol of peace, anointing, and divine blessing, represents a worthy leader who declines kingship because its role is already fruitful in God’s plan. The imagery reflects that true leadership is rooted in service, not ambition.

Verse 9 – “But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby gods and human beings are honored, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’”
The olive tree values its God-given role more than a title. In Israel, oil was used for sacred anointing (Exodus 30:22-33) and for daily sustenance. The tree’s refusal shows that abandoning one’s vocation for power is a loss, not a gain.

Verse 10 – “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’”
The fig tree, often a symbol of prosperity and security in Israel (Micah 4:4), is the next candidate. Again, the imagery suggests someone fruitful in their calling.

Verse 11 – “But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my sweet fruit, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’”
The fig tree, like the olive tree, refuses to trade God’s purpose for political dominance. Sweetness here reflects the joy and goodness of living in God’s will.

Verse 12 – “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, reign over us.’”
The vine, which produces wine, represents joy and festivity, often linked to God’s covenant blessings (Psalm 104:15).

Verse 13 – “But the vine answered them, ‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and human beings, and go off to hold sway over the trees?’”
The vine declines as well, valuing the role God gave it over ruling. The phrase “cheers gods and human beings” reflects wine’s use in temple offerings and social life.

Verse 14 – “Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’”
The buckthorn, unlike the previous fruitful trees, is a thorny, low-value plant. It offers no fruit, no oil, no sweetness. This is symbolic of a ruler with no virtues or blessings to offer.

Verse 15 – “The buckthorn answered the trees, ‘If you are anointing me in good faith, to make me king over you, come, and take refuge in my shadow. But if not, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
Buckthorn gives false promises—its “shadow” is almost nonexistent—symbolizing the emptiness of corrupt leadership. Its threat of fire reveals the danger of placing power in the wrong hands.

Teachings

The Catechism warns against ambition for power, teaching: “Authority does not derive its moral legitimacy from itself. It must not behave in a despotic manner, but must act for the common good as a moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility” (CCC 1902). The parable’s contrast between fruitful trees and a destructive buckthorn mirrors Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:16, “By their fruits you will know them.” Saint Bernard himself rejected high ecclesiastical offices, preferring the quiet fruitfulness of monastic life, reminding us that service is greater than status.

Reflection

This reading challenges us to examine our own ambitions. Are we chasing crowns that God has not given us? Are we willing to remain in the place where God’s grace makes us fruitful, even if it brings no earthly recognition? How often do we equate leadership with prestige rather than service? Today, God calls us to embrace our true vocation, however hidden it may be, trusting that the crown He places is the only one worth wearing. Perhaps the greatest act of leadership we can offer is to faithfully tend the “fruit” He has entrusted to us—whether in our family, parish, or workplace—without craving the false shade of worldly glory.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 21:2-7

The Joy of a King Crowned by God

Psalm 21 is a royal psalm, likely sung during public celebrations of the king’s victories and blessings. In ancient Israel, the king was not only a political leader but also a representative of the covenant people before God. His success and blessing were seen as signs of God’s favor upon the whole nation. The psalmist’s voice today overflows with gratitude—not for a crown seized by ambition, but for one given by God’s gracious hand. In the context of our theme, this psalm contrasts with the First Reading’s warning against self-appointed rulers. Here, the king’s joy springs from God’s power, God’s victory, and God’s blessing, reminding us that true leadership is received, not taken. It also prepares our hearts for the Gospel’s lesson, that God’s generosity, not human calculation, is the measure of reward in His Kingdom.

Psalm 21:2-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

² Lord, the king finds joy in your power;
    in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
³ You have granted him his heart’s desire;
    you did not refuse the request of his lips.
Selah
⁴ For you welcomed him with goodly blessings;
    you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
⁵ He asked life of you;
    you gave it to him,
    length of days forever.
⁶ Great is his glory in your victory;
    majesty and splendor you confer upon him.
⁷ You make him the pattern of blessings forever,
    you gladden him with the joy of your face.

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 2 – “Lord, the king finds joy in your power; in your victory how greatly he rejoices!”
The psalm opens with the king’s delight not in his own might, but in God’s strength and saving acts. This mirrors Deuteronomy 17:18-20, where kings are instructed to humble themselves under God’s law, finding their confidence in Him alone.

Verse 3 – “You have granted him his heart’s desire; you did not refuse the request of his lips.”
The king’s prayers have been answered, indicating his desires align with God’s will. This reflects Psalm 37:4, “Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart’s desires.” True prayer transforms ambition into alignment with God’s purposes.

Verse 4 – “For you welcomed him with goodly blessings; you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.”
The crown is symbolic of God’s appointment, much like the anointing of David in 1 Samuel 16:13. It’s a visible sign that authority is a divine gift, not a personal conquest.

Verse 5 – “He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever.”
In ancient Israel, long life was a sign of God’s blessing (Deuteronomy 5:33). The phrase “forever” may also foreshadow the eternal kingship of the Messiah, fulfilled in Christ.

Verse 6 – “Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you confer upon him.”
The king’s honor flows from God’s deliverance, not from his own campaigns. This echoes 1 Chronicles 29:12, “Yours, LORD, are greatness, might, majesty, victory, and splendor.”

Verse 7 – “You make him the pattern of blessings forever, you gladden him with the joy of your face.”
To see the “joy of God’s face” recalls the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. The king becomes a channel of God’s blessings for his people because he himself delights in God’s presence.

Teachings

The Catechism reminds us that all authority is under God’s sovereignty: “Every human community needs an authority to govern it. The foundation of such authority lies in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its role is to ensure, as far as possible, the common good of the society” (CCC 1898). But Psalm 21 adds a deeper dimension—true authority is marked by joy in God and a life conformed to His will. Saint Bernard, whose memorial we celebrate today, embodied this psalm: despite being offered positions of great power, he chose instead to lead from the cloister, radiating God’s blessing through humility, wisdom, and prayer. His writings continually point to the truth that all glory belongs to God alone.

Reflection

This psalm invites us to ask where our joy truly lies. Is it in our achievements, or in God’s victories in our lives? Do we rejoice more when we are praised by others, or when we sense God’s smile upon us? The path of the psalmist—and of Saint Bernard—is one of surrender to God’s will, trusting that the crown He places upon us, whether visible or hidden, is more valuable than any we could forge for ourselves. Today, let us cultivate the habit of thanking God first for His power in our lives before we take credit for our own efforts. That shift in perspective will change how we lead, serve, and love.

Holy Gospel – Matthew 20:1-16

The Generosity of the Landowner

In The Gospel of Matthew, this parable is part of Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven during His journey toward Jerusalem. It immediately follows His conversation with Peter about the rewards for following Him (Matthew 19:27-30), where He warns, “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” In the cultural context of first-century Palestine, day laborers depended on daily wages for survival, and work in the vineyards was both seasonal and urgent. The landowner’s repeated hiring throughout the day and his equal pay to all workers would have shocked Jesus’ audience, challenging deep-rooted ideas about fairness, merit, and reward. This parable perfectly fits today’s theme: in God’s Kingdom, authority and reward come from His generosity, not from human calculations or ambition. Saint Bernard’s life echoes this truth—he did not labor for personal recognition but for the love of God, knowing that his true reward was union with Christ.

Matthew 20:1-16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

The Workers in the Vineyard. ¹ “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ ⁵ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. ⁶ Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ ⁸ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ ⁹ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. ¹⁰ So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ ¹³ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? ¹⁵ [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Detailed Exegesis

Verse 1 – “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.”
The landowner represents God, and the vineyard symbolizes His Kingdom, as in Isaiah 5:7. Dawn signifies the start of God’s invitation to work in His service, often interpreted as those called early in life.

Verse 2 – “After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.”
The daily wage—a denarius—was a fair, standard pay. The agreement reflects God’s covenant promises: He is just and faithful to His word.

Verse 3 – “Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.”
The marketplace was where workers waited to be hired, symbolizing the human condition before being called into God’s service.

Verse 4 – “And he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’”
Here, there is no fixed agreement—only trust in the landowner’s justice. This reflects how God invites us to trust His providence without demanding exact terms.

Verse 5 – “So they went off. And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise.”
The repeated hiring emphasizes God’s persistent invitation at different stages of life, offering the same opportunity for salvation to all.

Verse 6 – “Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’”
The eleventh-hour workers represent those who turn to God late in life or after long delay.

Verse 7 – “They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’”
This shows that God’s call comes to all, even those overlooked by the world. No one is excluded from the possibility of entering His Kingdom.

Verse 8 – “When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’”
Evening symbolizes the end of life or the final judgment. The reversal in payment order mirrors the Kingdom’s reversal of worldly expectations.

Verse 9 – “When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage.”
The equal payment signifies salvation, which is a gift of grace, not something earned by hours worked.

Verse 10 – “So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage.”
The first-hired workers represent those who expect greater reward for longer service, revealing human tendencies toward comparison.

Verse 11 – “And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner.”
This recalls Israel’s murmuring in the desert (Exodus 16:2), a sign of discontent even in the face of God’s provision.

Verse 12 – “These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.”
Their complaint shows envy—a distortion of justice rooted in pride rather than joy for others’ blessing.

Verse 13 – “He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?’”
God’s justice is consistent and faithful to His word. The workers’ discontent comes from comparison, not from actual injustice.

Verse 14 – “Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?”
This asserts God’s sovereign freedom to bestow grace as He wills, without diminishing His justice.

Verse 15 – “Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?”
The landowner exposes the root of the complaint: envy. The Greek phrase literally means “Is your eye evil because I am good?”—a heart problem, not a justice problem.

Verse 16 – “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
This closing statement turns human ideas of rank upside down, emphasizing humility and God’s generosity over human merit.

Teachings

The Catechism teaches: “Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification” (CCC 2010). Salvation is God’s gift, freely given, whether one comes early or late to the vineyard. Saint Bernard wrote: “What we love we shall grow to resemble; what we love we shall possess. Let us love God, and we shall possess God.” His life testified to this truth—he sought God’s face above all else, never bargaining for reward but laboring in love. This parable also confronts the sin of envy, condemned in CCC 2539: “Envy is a capital sin. It refers to the sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself, even unjustly.”

Reflection

This Gospel invites us to rejoice in God’s generosity toward others rather than measuring our worth by comparison. Do we rejoice when God blesses someone who “came late” to the faith, or do we secretly feel they received too much too soon? God’s vineyard has room for all, and His payment—eternal life—is beyond anything we could earn. Today, let us shift from a mindset of entitlement to one of gratitude, trusting that our reward will be perfect because it comes from His loving hand. The joy of the Kingdom is not in being first, but in simply being called to work alongside the Master.

Called to Labor, Crowned by Love

Today’s readings weave a tapestry of humility, trust, and gratitude that finds its living example in Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church. In Judges 9:6-15, we are warned against the danger of choosing leadership based on ambition rather than virtue, reminded that true greatness is found in faithfully bearing fruit where God has planted us. Psalm 21 then lifts our eyes to the joy and honor that come when the crown is placed on our heads by God’s own hand, not seized by our own grasp. Finally, in Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus reveals the generous heart of the Father, who rewards each laborer in His vineyard—not according to human fairness, but according to divine mercy. Saint Bernard lived these truths in the quiet power of monastic service, turning away from titles and prestige to seek only the face of God, and in doing so, becoming a spiritual leader for the whole Church.

Where in your life is God inviting you to stop striving for recognition and simply trust His generosity? The vineyard awaits your labor, whether you have just begun or have toiled for years. The crown He offers is pure gold, not because of the length or visibility of your service, but because it is His gift, forged in love. Today, let us set aside envy, ambition, and comparison, and instead walk in the humility of the saints—joyfully working, patiently trusting, and eagerly awaiting the reward that only the Lord can give.

Engage with Us!

We would love to hear how today’s Word has spoken to your heart. Share your thoughts, prayers, and personal experiences in the comments so that together we can grow in faith and encourage one another on the journey toward Christ. Your reflections may inspire someone else to take a step closer to God today.

First Reading – Judges 9:6-15: When have you been tempted to step into a role or pursuit for the sake of recognition rather than service? How can you remain rooted in the “fruit” God has called you to bear?

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 21:2-7: Where do you find your greatest joy—in your own accomplishments or in what God has done in your life? How can you cultivate deeper gratitude for His blessings?

Holy Gospel – Matthew 20:1-16: How do you respond when God blesses someone who seems “late” to the faith or undeserving in your eyes? How can you grow in rejoicing over God’s generosity toward others?

Let us live every day with the humility of the olive tree, the joy of the psalmist, and the trust of the late-day laborer—doing all things with the love and mercy Jesus has taught us, until we are crowned not by men, but by the hand of God Himself.

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