26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In our first reading for this Sunday, we hear the prophet Ezekiel responding to the charge that God is unjust as god punished the individual for their own actions instead of relying on the promises of God to Israel as a nation. He goes on to say that each individual will be judged by their own actions and that repentance from sin will win that person pardon and life. In the Second Reading St. Paul tells us that Self seeking rivalry has no place within the Christian community and that the self-emptying of Christ should serve as an example to all those who call themselves Christian. We remember that God rewarded the obedience and humility of Jesus raised him high and gave him the name that is above all other names.
In our Gospel reading for this weekend, we hear the story of the two sons. The first son, who said no to his father, but who went and did what his father wanted. And then the second son, who says yes to the father but does not do what his father asked him to do . The first son “thought the better of it.” He was open to change. The second son was set in his ways and closed to what he should have been doing. The ability to change one’s mind is essential to all healthy relationships. A mind that is closed, whether from pride, stubbornness or stupidity, tends to destroy all relationships, For example when we refuse to admit a mistake, when we are unwilling to apologise and change our ways, when we persist in prejudice against an individual person or group, and when we think we know it all when the truth is that we don’t. Jesus surprises the people around him by responding favorably to the actions of the tax collectors and prostitutes who may have gotten it wrong at first but have come to their senses and come back with all their hearts. All of us can truthfully say, “I have made mistakes.” But here now and we are doing our best to follow the ways of the Lord. We try our best to receive the strength of Christ, the power of the Gospel, and try to integrate this into our daily lives.
This parable is Good News for those who think it is too late to change as it points out something very important about faith and religion. Religious practices have to be based on and animated by faith in god the Father. If we really want to honour our God, we must find ways to do the will of the Father. Sometimes it won’t be easy, sometimes it will be very hard. The Lord calls us to a living faith where we enter into a real relationship with God and that requires an authentic desire to follow Christ, whatever the cost is for us. Through this parable of “the second chance,” grace is given to enable us “to change our minds.” so that we can start anew. Jesus who tells this parable to us assures us we have his help to redirect our lives to say “Yes” to the God who calls and enables us to change our hearts and our minds in order to bring about his kingdom in our world where we are today.
