Cycle A - Year 1:

1 October 2017: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

Gospel:Please Read Matthew 21:28-32

Obedience to God's will, in words and in deeds!

Storytelling is one of the most effective ways to communicate to a child. Because a child easily relates to life situations, and learns valuable lessons from them. In fact, we don't outgrow our storytelling days; they are simply known differently in later life as life experiences.

Our Lord Jesus was an amazing teacher and a fantastic storyteller. We will hear in today's Gospel another example of His ability to craft a story using common life experiences and simple images in order to teach the profound truth of our Christian faith.

The story in the Gospel goes this way: A father who owns a vineyard has two sons. He asks them both to go and help out in the vineyard. One son says "yes" but then never goes there. The other says "no" at first but changes his mind and goes to help in the vineyard. Now Jesus asks: which son did the father's will?

Well, the answer seems straightforward on first glance. The first son ultimately did the father's will. But then on second glance, both sons really brought dishonor to their father, the first by his words (saying "no" to the father), the second by his deeds (by not doing what he was told). So neither son was right.

Jesus makes His point clear in this parable of the two sons. Good intentions are not enough. And promises are nothing unless they are met.

The lesson in the parable is that God wants to change our hearts so that we must show both by our words and by our actions that we respect and follow His will and do it without reservations and conditions. And when we are faithful to His will, God offers each one of us the greatest treasure reserved for us, which is unending peace, joy, happiness, and eternal life with Him in the kingdom. Yet we can lose that treasure if we refuse the grace God is offering us to follow in His way of truth and righteousness.

Jesus, therefore, encourages us to think about the consequences of our choices in life, especially the choices and decisions that will count not just for here and now but for eternity as well. Because the choices we make now will affect and shape our future both on earth as well as our final destiny in life after.

In sum, the ideal son is the one who says "yes" right away and also does what he is told. To live a life of hearing and doing the will of God is to respect and adhere to our Lord Jesus' authority as Teacher and Lord. For it is the person who says "yes" immediately and goes to work in the vineyard who pleases the Lord and will receive His reward in the end.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!