Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

First Reading: Ez 18:25–28

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4–5, 6–7, 8–9

Second Reading: Phil 2:1–11 or 2:1–5

Gospel: Mt 21:28–32

St. Monica Catholic Church, San Antonio, TX

          I bet all of you who are parents can understand the parable in the Gospel today. In this parable, the father has two sons and tells them both to go work in his vineyard. The first son tells him ‘no’ and angers his father, but then changes his minds and goes to work as he was told. We parents can definitely empathize with the patience and forgiveness the father had for the second son who finally obeyed him. The second son says ‘yes’ to make his father feel good, but he never actually goes to work. How disappointing that must have been for the father! 

          This parable illustrates well the difference between words and actions. In Texas, we have a saying that “Talk is Cheap.” Actions certainly do speak louder than words. And, we all know that one person at work that talks a good game, but when it is time to get our hands dirty, they are nowhere to be found. Jesus directed this parable at the Scribes and Pharisees who knew all the intricacies of the Law inside and out, but failed miserably in showing the compassion and mercy the Law actually called for. They are like the second son whose lips say ‘yes’, but whose life says ‘no’. The outcasts of society – the tax collectors, the prostitutes – the sinners are the ones who initially said ‘no’ to following the law. But when John the Baptist and Jesus called them to repentance, they changed their minds and said ‘yes’ with their lives, embracing the Kingdom of God.

          Which son are we? Of course, we are both sons at different parts of our lives. That is why the Church is a field hospital for sinners, not a country club for saints. Here in the Church we learn to change our lives, to repent, to be more like the first son. This parable applies to us in three ways:

          First we are reminded that the way we live our lives shows what we really believe. Our actions, not our words reveal what is in our hearts and where we are faithful. It is quite possible for a person to go to Mass often, read the Bible daily, and to be able to spew forth their personal theology like a professor and yet live life as a functional atheist. We see this in our politicians all too often – Catholic in Name Only. Sadly, we sometimes see it in our clergy as well. The best evidence of our belief is how we live. Spouses show one another love in actions, not by words. Which reminds me, all of you husbands who have not taken your wife on a date lately, had better hop to it!

          Second, in all of us, there is a gap - a disconnect between what we profess to believe and how we live our belief. In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us to be of one mind, one love, and one heart with Jesus Christ. It is easy to call Jesus Lord, but is he truly the Lord of our life? Is Jesus the Lord of our financial life – do we tithe and support the parish and school? Is Jesus the Lord of our family life – do we give our children a good Catholic education? Is Jesus the Lord of our professional life – do we live our faith at work, or check it at the door? Is Jesus the Lord of our private life – do we keep a holy perimeter of prayer around our homes or do we bring in filthy movies and images from the internet? Working to bring our lives into conformity to what we believe is called conversion. It is about embracing more fully what it means to be a Christian. It takes time and effort to learn to let Jesus Christ be Lord of our whole life.

          Which brings us to our third point. This parable about the two sons is for us a story of hope and of challenge. The first son who first said no, but then did what his father asked teaches us that when we say ‘no’ to God, it can become a ‘yes’. For many reasons under many circumstances, we Christians distance ourselves from Christ and his holy bride the Church through sin. But we can still come back home and draw closer to our Lord and turn our no into yes, doing his work. There is always hope while yet we live. The challenging side of this parable is in the second son who says yes, but does not obey. Far too often we can find ourselves empty inside, going through the motions of our faith just because that is what we are used to. But there is no surrender, no obedience, no faith behind what we do. We are living on fumes. Our ‘yes’ can all to easily become ‘no’ if we are not vigilant.

          Satan is alive and active in the world today. The capital sins of pride, lust, greed, wrath, envy, gluttony, and sloth have become deeply entrenched in our culture. The question we face here and now is how do we respond to this reality? Jesus Christ calls us to obedience and offers us mercy. Will we allow ourselves to be like the second son, going through the motions of what it looks like to be a Catholic Christian with no faith and devotion inside? Or will we be like the first son, acknowledging our sinfulness, seeking repentance, and turning our ‘no’ into ‘yes’? That is the difficult question this parable places before each and every one of us today.

St. Joseph, Most Faithful, Pray for us!