Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
When we hear stories from the Gospels about Jesus, or especially when he teaches in parables, we can be quick to identify with one particular character or another. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, you might identify with the Samaritan man, swooping in to save the day; but it’s worthwhile to think about how we relate to each character in a parable. Let’s say in that case, you put yourself in the shoes of the priest or Levite that passed the traveler by and didn’t help; or in the shoes of the traveler. Then when you go to apply the parable to your life you not only have the question of “Who is God calling me to drop everything and serve?” like the Samaritan, but also “Where in my life have I blown off God’s call to serve someone because I didn’t have my priorities straight and was putting myself first?” like the priest and the Levite, or “What does God want me to be healed of, and who does he want me to let into my life and into that process to help me?” like the traveler.
Or take the story of the Prodigal Son, who went off and spent all of his inheritance, and then was welcomed back with open arms by his father. We usually identify with that son in reflecting on God’s forgiveness, but we should also consider the ways in our lives that we are like the older brother who was jealous and didn’t rejoice at his brother’s homecoming.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, there’s a relatively short parable, and it might not be on Jesus’ “Greatest Parable hits” album as far as being widely known, but it’s still incredibly important for us. And like the others we just mentioned, there are two big questions for our reflection that come from this.
A man had two sons and asked them both to work in the vineyard. One initially said no, but later went, and the other initially said yes, but didn’t’ follow through. So first put on the shoes of the son who changed his mind and went. What has God been asking us to do in our lives, that we’ve been hesitant to do, or maybe have even been running away from? Maybe you have a friend who’s getting involved with the wrong crowd or making some poor decisions, and you’re dreading having a serious conversation about it. Like the first son here, it’s not too late to change your mind and heart, and follow where God is leading you. Sure, it’s better to respond to God right away when he calls, but this is the next best thing.
Sometimes we believe the lie that we’re not worthy of God’s love because of the things we’ve done, or that it’s too late for us. God reminds us always, but in this Gospel especially, that what really matters is a true change of heart. What truly matters is an honest heart, that always seeks to do what God wants. As long as we focus on doing that, even if we fall along the way, God will surely draw us back to Him.
And then the flip side; where have we said yes to God and then not followed through? A surface level example of this could be deciding to give up coffee for Lent and then caving when your friends are going to Starbucks after school. More seriously than that, every time we sin we’re being like this son from the parable; we’re claiming that we want to live a good Christian life, but not following through on our yes to God.
But there’s good news! In both of these cases, it show’s God’s mercy and love for us; all we need to do is turn around and repent. The second son also has the opportunity like the first son, to repent and turn back to God, and to follow through on his commitment in the end. Of course it’s better to give God our yes and follow through in the first place, but this too is the “next best thing”. So whether we’re all talk like the chief priests and elders, to whom Jesus is addressing this parable, or whether we’re repentant like the tax collectors and sinners, God has love and mercy to offer to all of us.