Saying Yes and Showing Up, By Alexis Fuentes, Fiat Ventures
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have you ever had someone start to tell a joke, and your immediate reaction was, “Oh yeah I know this one, I’ve heard it a million times.” This is kind of what Jesus sounds like in today’s Gospel. It’s as if he were about to tell this classic joke, and we all already know the punch line.
In this reading, Jesus’ parable begins with, “A man has two sons.” Timeless set up. You already know that one is the hero and one in the villain. You’re going to love one and hate the other. You’ll say to one, “I totally feel you man,” and say to the other something like, “seriously dude?? C’mon!” The question is, “which is which?”
Let’s actually dive in by starting with the second son. We find out that both sons are given a job to do. They’re asked to do work in their father’s vineyard. The second son immediately responds in the affirmative. “Yes, dad. You got it. No problem.” But he never actually comes through. He doesn’t complete the task. He never shows up.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why? Why doesn’t he come through? I mean, his first instinct is to obey the Father. So, what kept him from his commitment? I like to imagine it was something very practical. Maybe he got called into a meeting. Maybe he got a flat tire. Maybe he ate too much and needed a nap. Who knows! The point is that, at the end of the day, he wasn’t true to his word. His “Yes” to his father meant nothing because he had nothing to show for it.
Now let’s talk about the first son. This guy is another interesting character. Again, the father has requests that he go and help him in the vineyard. Unlike his brother, this guy’s first response is a flat-out “no!” Can you imagine the audacity of this son?! What could have been his reasons? To be fair, let’s give him the same benefit of the doubt we gave his brother. Maybe he didn’t have the right tools. Maybe he was allergic to grapes. Maybe he ate too much and needed a nap. Who knows! The point is that although his initial response was one of rebellion, in the end, he changed his mind and did his father asked of him.
This is the point of Jesus’ exaltation and praise. “Amen I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God…” In other words, those who led lives of active rebellion against God’s will now find themselves conforming their wills to His.
Hidden in today’s Gospel, we are confronted with a story of Mercy. For all of us whose first instinct is to say no, to run, or to disobey, there’s hope. It doesn’t matter what the reasons are. Sometimes, we may feel ashamed for not being more like the second son; we missed the opportunity to say YES the first time around. But Jesus is saying there’s always a second chance — a chance to change our minds, change our hearts, and conform our wills to the Father’s. To take part in the work of his vineyard.
If you’re trying to live the Christian life, you should find great solace in this story. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you can turn around and just show up to work.
And showing up is half the battle.
