Cycle A - Year I:  

1 October 2023: 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 

Faith that bears fruits!

Holy Scriptures tell us that our Lord Jesus Christ was an amazing teacher and fantastic storyteller to His followers. He has the ability to craft a story using common life experiences and simple images in order to teach the profound truth of our Christian faith and God's kingdom.

We hear today another story from our Lord to His followers. The Parable of the Two Sons is about two brothers whose father tells them to go work in his vineyard. 

The Parable of the Two Sons: A father who owns a vineyard has two sons. He asks them both to go and help out in the vineyard. The first son says "No" at first but changes his mind later and went to help in the vineyard. The other son says "Yes" but never went. Now, the first son was arrogant but his action shows his goodness. The second son sounds cooperative but fails to keep his promise. At the end of the story, Jesus asks His audience which son did the father's will?

The answer seems straightforward. The first son ultimately did the father's will. But then on second glance, neither son brought honor to their father; the first son dishonors his father by his words (saying "no") and the second by his deeds (by not doing what he was told). So both sons did not show respect to their father in this case.

In this parable, Jesus raises a simple yet profound point. Actively following God takes more of an effort than just claiming to follow Him. It is one thing to speak about what you intend on doing with your faith, but it's another thing to actually follow God's call to act.

So then Jesus challenges us in this Gospel. Many of us have said "yes" to God by our baptism and membership of the Church, but can we say that we always carry out what God is asking us to do?

Our Lord Jesus 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.

Jesus asks us to think carefully about whether our words and actions are in agreement. The Gospel reminds us of something we often forget: words can be meaningless. Promises are empty when not followed by concrete actions.

In the first Reading, the prophet Ezekiel tells us that if by our action we do what is right and just before the Lord, we shall live and shall not die. And in the second Reading, St. Paul reminds us that our collective action is for unity and humility, the kind of attitude that Christ Himself has shown us in obedience to the Father's will.

In sum, our faith must bear fruits for God's kingdom. 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!