Do we spend a lot of time praying in church but not doing much loving outside of it?

Reading: Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you; the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. Matthew 21:31.

Good morning, happy Tuesday, and many blessings my dear family.

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 21:28-32) is very familiar to us. It is the parable of the man who had two sons. The father told his first son to do the work that was needed in the vineyard. The first son absolutely refused to do as his father requested. I can easily imagine the father’s reaction. I am sure he was not pleased with this son’s refusal! Later, however, the son changed his mind and did go to work in the fields. What was it that caused him to change his mind? We simply don’t know.

The father then went to his younger son and asked him to work in the vineyard. The younger son told his father that he would go and work in the fields. However, the younger son did not follow through. After his father left him, he changed his mind and decided not to work in the vineyard. Who knows what he did instead! I wonder if he felt guilty for not doing what he said he would do?

I assume that we, too, have been in the position of both sons. At times we may feel that God is asking us to enter a task or situation that we truly do not want to deal with. Initially we also may refuse or at least hesitate to say yes. Hopefully with time and grace we also may come to a place of acceptance and say yes to what God seems to be asking of us. It may take us some time to get to that place of acceptance, but God promises to strengthen and grace us. May we pray for the grace to trust God in these moments! God will not disappoint!

Jesus is really challenging 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? Do we think that because we are practicing Christians we are in a privileged position? Do we spend a lot of time praying in church but not doing much loving outside of it? Do we find ourselves speaking in a critical or condescending way of less devout Christians or of people who do not seem to be very moral by our standards?

In this parable which Jesus speaks, the tax collectors and prostitutes - those most despised and rejected by society, are ahead of the self-righteous ones. They were the ones who were open to the word of God and to change. Also, the gospel reminds us of something we often forget words can be meaningless. Promises are empty when not followed by action. The first son is arrogant, but his action shows his goodness. The second son sounds co-operative but fails to keep his promise.

Possibly, after some honest reflection, we may have to admit that we are not really in a position to sit in judgement of others. As Christmas approaches, let us be followers of the Lord in deeds as well as words.

Blessings,

Luis+