Which Son Did the Father's Will?
Introduction: May you be guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit
as you seek to be headed to the Reign of God.
The GPS prompt us which way we should turn to arrive at the destination
that had been entered into the device. If all things worked correctly, we are guided
to where we want to go. There were a few things which could have prevented us from
arriving at the intended location. One problem might be that we enter the wrong
address into the GPS. Another thing might be our choice not to follow the prompting
of the GPS. Still another problem was that there might have been problems (just
happening road construction, traffic, or an accident) of which the GPS was not yet
aware as of that second. If we purposefully decided to not follow the prompting
of the GPS, the GPS would say, “Recalculating,” and would plot a new course that
would get me back on track toward my ultimate goal.
In our spiritual journey, similar things happen. We are on a
journey toward God. Our “God Provided Spirit” (GPS) will prompt us as we head toward
our ultimate destination. We can choose to disregard the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
This will cause the GPSpirit to recalculate how we can get back on track. This GPS,
as our more modern vehicle GPS, will always seek to get us to be on the right track,
even if there are new conditions along our journey to be with our God. The Holy
Spirit always knows where we should be heading, but we can refuse to follow what
turns we should make to arrive at the house of our Abba-Father Who happens to be
God. How much easier it is if we follow the God Provided Spirit.
Today’s readings speak about making choices – moral choices and
the consequences of those choices. Ezekiel reminds the people who listen to him
that each individual is responsible for his/her own actions. The psalm is a prayer
asking for God’s guidance in making the right choices and God’s forgiveness and
mercy when wrong choices are made. St. Paul addresses the community at Philippi
and presents to them a list of virtuous actions that they should try to perform
and reminds them that they have a role model in Jesus. Jesus’s attitude should be
the attitude they try to take for their own lives. In the Gospel, Jesus presents
the parable of two sons who respond to their father’s request to do a certain job.
Both have a change of heart after responding verbally to their father’s request.
First Reading; Ezekiel 18:25-28: ‘When a wicked person turns
away from the wickedness he has committed, he shall save his life.’
Commentary: The prophet
Ezekiel was speaking in Babylon during the exile of the Jews there after the destruction
of Jerusalem. Not surprisingly, the second generation of exiles were questioning
why they should suffer for the failures of their forefathers. This was, however,
a new phase in the development of morality, for beforehand the sense of solidarity
with family or clan had been so strong that it was assumed that punishment for the
sins and failures of an individual would affect the whole clan or family. Now the
individual is to be held responsible for his or her own sins only. Furthermore,
the individual cannot simply rely on good deeds of the past, nor feel irremediably
condemned for failures in the past. Conversion in both directions is possible: just
as the good person can become evil, so the evil person can change direction. At
the end the Lord promises conversion to the good, a new heart and a new spirit,
so that even the sinner can repent and live.
Responsorial Psalm 25:4-5b. 6-7. 8-9: Remember your compassion,
O LORD.
The psalm builds on the thought of the LORD being a forgiving
God Who not only has been generous in forgiving in the past, but Who forgets about
the past sins and will redirect and guide a person who turns to God for new guidance
and help. All one needs do is turn humbly to the LORD and the LORD will show the
divine way.
Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11: ‘Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.’
Commentary: This is
a wonderful hymn of Christ’s self-emptying and his exaltation and vindication by
the Father, probably an ancient Christian hymn celebrating the triumph of Christ,
which Paul adopted and used for himself. In the first half of the reading Paul shows
the warmth of his joy as a pastor in the fellowship of his young community at Philippi,
though the fact of this strong appeal for unity may suggest that he is painting
an optimistic picture of their single-mindedness! He also gently chides them for
their vanity, and the reason why he includes the hymn is to show that the path of
humility is the way to exaltation. The hymn itself contrasts Christ, the Second
Adam, with Adam (that is, humanity) who fell, who wanted to be like God, who tried
to escape death, tried to exalt himself and was humbled. The last verses are one
of the clearest statements in Paul of the divine character of Christ. A verse from
Isaiah 45.23 is applied to Christ. In Isaiah the verse describes the homage due
to the LORD alone, and no one else. In the hymn this divine homage is paid to Christ
– and this is to the glory of God the Father. The concept of divinity is expanded
to include Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32: ‘He changed his mind and went. The
tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.’
Commentary: Matthew
loves giving parables of Jesus contrasting ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ like these two
contrasting sons. Matthew’s parables put everything in black-and-white terms with
no shades of grey (wise and foolish wedding-attendants, sheep and goats). Luke uses
a different kind of parables, in which the characters – just like ourselves – often
do the right thing for the wrong reason. The sayings of Jesus were handed down by
word of mouth for some years before being written down. Did the straightforward
contrast in Matthew (it is odd that both change their minds without a reason) develop
into Luke’s parable of the Prodigal Son? Both times the ‘goodie’ son ends up bad,
and the ‘baddie’ son ends up good, but in Luke’s version both changes of mind are
motivated, and there is great emphasis on the son’s repentance and the father’s
overwhelming joy at getting him back. The lesson in Matthew’s story is given also
by Jesus’ word in the Sermon on the Mount, ‘It is not anyone who says to me, “Lord,
Lord” who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of
my Father in Heaven’. It is no use simply saying that Christ is our ‘Lord’, we have
to express it in our behaviour.
Reflection: What kind of future are you preparing for? Jesus
encourages us to think - to think about the consequences of our choices,
especially the choices and decisions that will count not just for now but for
eternity as well. The choices we make now will affect and shape our future,
both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come.
Repaying a debt of gratitude
and showing respect where it is due: Jesus tells a simple story of
two imperfect sons to illustrate the way of God's kingdom. The father amply
provided for his sons food, lodging, and everything they needed. Everything the
father had belonged to them as well. The father also rewarded his sons with
excellent work in his own vineyard. He expected them to show him gratitude,
loyalty, and honor by doing their fair share of the daily work.
Converting both heart and
will to do what is good and pleasing to God: The
"rebellious" son told his father to his face that he would not work
for him. But afterwards he changed his mind and did what his father commanded
him. The "good" son said he would work for his father but didn't
follow through. He sought his own pleasure, contrary to his father's will. Now
who was really the good son? Both sons disobeyed their father - but one
repented and then did what the father told him. Jesus makes his point clear - good
intentions are not enough. And promises don't count unless they are performed.
A transformed heart filled
with gratitude and respect: God wants to change our hearts so that
we will show by our speech and by our actions that we respect his will and do
it. God offers each one of us the greatest treasure possible - indestructable
peace, joy, and friendship with him in his everlasting kingdom. We can lose
that treasure if we refuse the grace - the free gift of God's blessing and
strength - which the Lord Jesus has won for us through his victory on the
cross. The Lord Jesus fills us with the gift of the Holy Spirit who works in
and through us for the glory of God. Do you seek to please God and respect his
will and loving plan for your life? Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart
with the peace, joy, and righteousness of God's kingdom (Romans 14:17).
Lord Jesus, change my heart that I may only desire that
which is pleasing to you. Help me to respect your will and give me the
strength, joy and perseverance to carry it out wholeheartedly.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: The Father and
his two sons, unknown author, from the 5th century A.D.
"Who is this if not the God who created all people and
loves them with a fatherly affection, the God who preferred to be loved as a
father rather than feared as a lord, even though he was Lord by nature? On this
account, at the beginning of the commandments of the law, he did not say, 'You
shall fear the Lord with all your heart' but 'you shall love the Lord with all
your heart' (Deuteronomy 6:5). To elicit love is not characteristic of a lord
but of a father. Of the two sons in this parable, the older one represents the
Gentiles, since they come from their father Noah. The younger son represents
the Jews, who come from Abraham. 'And approaching the first, he said,
"Son, go and work today in my vineyard." 'Today' refers to this
present age. How did he speak to his sons? He didn't address them face to face
like man, but he spoke to the heart, like God. Man only utters words to the
ear, but God supplies understanding to the mind." (excerpt from an
incomplete Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, HOMILY 40)
the third son: “Son,
go out and work in the vineyard today...” —Matthew 21:28
The first son did nothing for his father except displease
and disrespect him. This son’s initial “Yes” translated into nothing being done
for the vineyard that day; in addition, it put the father a full day behind in
chores to be done in the vineyard (Mt 21:29).
The second son did the father’s will, yet not perfectly in
all respects. The father, however, was satisfied. The vineyard chores were
done, and the father, though wounded by his son’s initial disobedience and
rebelliousness, found joy in his repentance and ultimate obedience (Mt 21:30).
There is a third Son in this parable. He is Jesus, the
Storyteller, the Son of God. This Son did His Father’s will obediently,
instantly, and lovingly. Speaking of His relationship with His Father, Jesus
said: “I always do what pleases Him” (Jn 8:29).
Our “attitude must be that of Christ” (Phil 2:5). We will
then become so caught up in love with our heavenly Father that we eagerly seek
and fulfill His every desire. Repent of displeasing and disobeying the Father.
Tell Him “Yes.” Then go work in His vineyard (Mt 21:28) and bear fruit that
will endure for His glory (Jn 15:8, 16).
Prayer: Father,
“guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Ps 25:5). “At Jesus’ name every knee
must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue
proclaim to the glory of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!” —Phil 2:10-11. Praise
the risen Jesus, Who trusted that His Father’s words were true. Praise You,
Jesus, beloved Son of the Father (Mt 3:17).
The personal action for today: Can I think of a time when I said “yes” to God and
yet did not do what I said I would? Are there times when I have turned my back to
God (a-theos), and later changed my mind and sought to be more in line with God?
What was the experience like when I sensed God’s forgiveness of my sin and knew
that I was being more on Target again in my aiming for (towards) God? What can I
do to share with others the blessing of correcting their “missing the mark” and
realigning themselves more fully toward God (ad Deum)?
Saint Vincent de Paul: The deathbed confession of a dying servant opened
Saint Vincent de Paul’s eyes to the crying spiritual needs of the peasantry of
France. This seems to have been a crucial moment in the life of the man from a
small farm in Gascony, France, who had become a priest with little more
ambition than to have a comfortable life.
The Countess de Gondi—whose servant he had helped—persuaded
her husband to endow and support a group of able and zealous missionaries who
would work among poor tenant farmers and country people in general. Vincent was
too humble to accept leadership at first, but after working for some time in
Paris among imprisoned galley slaves, he returned to be the leader of what is
now known as the Congregation of the Mission, or the Vincentians. These priests,
with vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability, were to devote
themselves entirely to the people in smaller towns and villages.
Later, Saint Vincent de Paul established confraternities of
charity for the spiritual and physical relief of the poor and sick of each
parish. From these, with the help of Saint Louise de Marillac, came the
Daughters of Charity, “whose convent is the sickroom, whose chapel is the
parish church, whose cloister is the streets of the city.”
He organized the rich women of Paris to collect funds for
his missionary projects, founded several hospitals, collected relief funds for
the victims of war, and ransomed over 1,200 galley slaves from North Africa. He
was zealous in conducting retreats for clergy at a time when there was great
laxity, abuse, and ignorance among them. He was a pioneer in clerical training
and was instrumental in establishing seminaries.
Most remarkably, Saint Vincent de Paul was by temperament a
very irascible person—even his friends admitted it. He said that except for the
grace of God he would have been “hard and repulsive, rough and cross.” But he
became a tender and affectionate man, very sensitive to the needs of others.
Pope Leo XIII made him the patron of all charitable
societies. Outstanding among these, of course, is the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul, founded in 1833 by his admirer Blessed Frédéric Ozanam.
The Church is for all God’s children, rich and poor,
peasants and scholars, the sophisticated and the simple. But obviously the
greatest concern of the Church must be for those who need the most help—those
made helpless by sickness, poverty, ignorance, or cruelty. Vincent de Paul is a
particularly appropriate patron for all Christians today, when hunger has
become starvation, and the high living of the rich stands in more and more
glaring contrast to the physical and moral degradation in which many of God’s
children are forced to live.
