(Ezek 26,25-28; Philippians 2,1-11; Matt 21,28-32: 26th Sunday of Year A)

(Ezek 26,25-28; Philippians 2,1-11; Matt 21,28-32: 26th Sunday of Year A)

The parable which Jesus proposes for our meditation this Sunday is simple and clear. It is about two sons whom the father sends to work in the farm, he says to each: my son, go and work today in the farm. Their responses are not only diverse but also contrasting. The first says, yes! I will go but did not go, while the second responded, I have no wish, but eventually went. The primary addressees of this parable were the chief priests and elders of the people, that is to say, the people who held the moral and religious authority of the people of Israel during Jesus’ time. They represent the first son who said yes I will go to God at the beginning, but now at the decision time, the coming of Christ and John the Baptist who preceded and prepared his coming, refused to believe. The publicans, who were regarded as sinners and prostitutes who were reckoned as already lost, represent the second son in the parable who at first refused to go to work but repented and believed and followed John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Ending, the parable, Jesus warned the leaders of the people of Israel: I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you.

 

This parable is also addressed to us. God is our Father and we are his sons and daughters: indeed all human creatures, no matter who we are and where we come from. It is God who calls all to his vineyard, that is, to salvation which is being offered in Christ Jesus and which is obtained through faith in him. Gaining salvation is not by mere words of the mouth but through deeds, adhering to the teaching of Christ and putting his gospel messages into practice. On the one hand, there are some who answer yes to this offer of salvation but do nothing to realise their yes and continue to live as if they have not made any commitment. Worse still, they even live contradicting lives to the yes, they answered.  On the other hand, there are some who first say no to the offer of salvation, but then repent and begin to give positive response and take on the consequences of their yes. Here this common adage can be helpful: Action speaks louder than words.Perhaps we resemble the son who says yes more, (I believe, I want to save myself, yes I accept the Gospel) but do practically nothing to live out our faith. The word of God today invites us: 

(a) to respond yes to God’s call for salvation not by words only but also with deeds of faith 

(b) to repent and get converted and begin to follow the dictates of faith we profess. 

The parable alludes to two different types of persons: the first type that says yes, but then behaves as if they have said no and the other that says no and later acts as if they have said yes. There is a third group. They say yes, and mean and live out all the consequences of their yes. The model of this third group that are consistent and coherent with their yes is Jesus Christ, the only Son of God the Father, who incarnated and became man for our salvation. The second reading has the following about him: He (Jesus) was humbler yet, even to accepting death in obedience, death on a cross. The life of Jesus is a total yes to God the Father, from the beginning to the end. As Jesus entered into the world he said:  Behold me, I have come to do your will (Heb 10,7). John the Evangelist records the same idea in one of Jesus’ sayings: My food is to do the will of he, who sent me (John 4,34). There are so many generous souls who respond yes to God and live out this yes in deeds of faith all through their life. Why would this not be possible to us? 

In the second reading, St. Paul presents Jesus not only as a model of obedience to the Father, but also indicated to us the ways he has followed in this obedience to the Father. The first is the life of humility  and emptying of himself: He emptied himself... humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even death on the cross. The second is the way of love in service. Jesus assumed the condition of a slave/servant, as Paul holds today in the second reading. Jesus was obedient servant of God the Father, for the love he has for God the Father and his brothers: This is well captured in the words of Jesus himself:  I did not come to be served but to serve and give me life (Mark 10,45). If we are Christians, that is to say, disciples and followers of Christ we have to put on the sentiments of Jesus himself as Paul exhorts us in today’s 2nd Reading: Have the same sentiments that were in Christ Jesus. In practical terms it means removing from our lives all forms of rivalries, vain glory which comes from pride, and selfishness. This will enable us nurture: 

(a) sentiments of humility where each one of us will consider the other superior 

(b) sentiments of generous donation of oneself: one should not be looking for his own interest, but rather the interest of the others 

(c) sentiments of harmony and reciprocal compassion. 

Let us, therefore, in today’s liturgy pray for the grace to be coherent with our yes to God which we gave or was given on our behalf at our Baptism by following our model Jesus Christ who was humble and obedient and came to serve and not to be served. Happy Sunday! 

+John I. Okoye