26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 1/10/2023 - Gospel: Mt 21: 28-32
Making A U-Turn
Not all sets of traffic lights allow to make a U-turn; for safety reasons, only a set of traffic lights with the sign saying, U-turn Permitted, allows a driver to make a U-turn. Making a U-Turn means doing a complete change to the opposite direction. Making a U-turn or changing direction because the current one is leading in the wrong direction. Making a simple or ordinary decision is easy, but when it comes to an important one, it is much harder to make, because it may change a person's way of life. Without proper consideration, the commitment may be immature.
Both the sons in today's Gospel have changed their minds after answering to their father. The father has two sons. He asks the first son to work in his vineyard. He answered 'No' to his father, but later on changed his mind, and went. The father says the same thing to his second son. He answered 'Certainly' but later on changed his mind, and did not go. Both the sons changed their minds. A call to work in the Lord's vineyard is an important call; because it involves a whole person and lasts a lifetime. Both the sons had made an instant response to the father; they later reflected on it and changed their minds. When dealing with an important matter, our mind would not rest until it finds a workable solution. It is either confirming the commitment that had been made or denying it. Both the sons have reflected on the promises they had made to the father, and the outcomes were different.
Making a change requires accepting that the current way of life is wrong, and then looking for an opportunity to change. The chief priests and the elders believe they are right, and there is no need to change. Changing is for someone else, not for them. They are so certain that leaves no room for an alternative. They are blinded to the point, that except them, all others are wrong, including John the Baptist and Jesus.
Faithfulness to Jesus is what we would like to do, but from time to time we are mistaken by our own desire, thinking that our will is also God's. We are acting very much like the chief priests and the elders. As a result, one moment we act very much like the first son; at others we act like the second son. We confess Jesus is our Lord and God, and yet every time we sin, we do the opposite. Like the sons, we need to ponder upon the teaching of Jesus, and with God's grace, we make corrections, and change the course of action based on Jesus' teaching. We need to remind ourselves any idea that contradicts Jesus' teaching needs to be abolished. We need to accept our weaknesses and limitations; and make a sharp U-turn to turn back to God. Making a spiritual U-turn often comes after a personal tragedy. It is either in extreme poverty or poor health or being rejected by our society. They are not there for us to mourn, but to realize that following the way of the world will come to a dead end. This competitive world often treats others not with love but with scorn; while God's way is love and mercy.
The parable highlights that our loving God always gives us a second chance for us to make a u-turn, the road that leads us to God is humility and obedience. Our sins deny God's love, but our humbleness leads us to God, and that is the road that Jesus calls us to trot.
Both the sons in today's Gospel have changed their minds after answering to their father. The father has two sons. He asks the first son to work in his vineyard. He answered 'No' to his father, but later on changed his mind, and went. The father says the same thing to his second son. He answered 'Certainly' but later on changed his mind, and did not go. Both the sons changed their minds. A call to work in the Lord's vineyard is an important call; because it involves a whole person and lasts a lifetime. Both the sons had made an instant response to the father; they later reflected on it and changed their minds. When dealing with an important matter, our mind would not rest until it finds a workable solution. It is either confirming the commitment that had been made or denying it. Both the sons have reflected on the promises they had made to the father, and the outcomes were different.
Making a change requires accepting that the current way of life is wrong, and then looking for an opportunity to change. The chief priests and the elders believe they are right, and there is no need to change. Changing is for someone else, not for them. They are so certain that leaves no room for an alternative. They are blinded to the point, that except them, all others are wrong, including John the Baptist and Jesus.
Faithfulness to Jesus is what we would like to do, but from time to time we are mistaken by our own desire, thinking that our will is also God's. We are acting very much like the chief priests and the elders. As a result, one moment we act very much like the first son; at others we act like the second son. We confess Jesus is our Lord and God, and yet every time we sin, we do the opposite. Like the sons, we need to ponder upon the teaching of Jesus, and with God's grace, we make corrections, and change the course of action based on Jesus' teaching. We need to remind ourselves any idea that contradicts Jesus' teaching needs to be abolished. We need to accept our weaknesses and limitations; and make a sharp U-turn to turn back to God. Making a spiritual U-turn often comes after a personal tragedy. It is either in extreme poverty or poor health or being rejected by our society. They are not there for us to mourn, but to realize that following the way of the world will come to a dead end. This competitive world often treats others not with love but with scorn; while God's way is love and mercy.
The parable highlights that our loving God always gives us a second chance for us to make a u-turn, the road that leads us to God is humility and obedience. Our sins deny God's love, but our humbleness leads us to God, and that is the road that Jesus calls us to trot.
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
