26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
YES OR NO?
MT 21: 28-32
MESSAGE:
The parable of the two sons calls to mind the challenge to obedience. Each of the sons embodies a response to this challenge – the first was willing to obey albeit after a few moments of deliberation, while the second was unwilling to obey although he feigned compliance at first. However I believe this gospel is not about pinpointing which of the people we know obey the Lord or not. In fact, the contrasting attitudes of the two sons can simultaneously reside in our own hearts. Just look into yourself. There are areas of our lives where we find it easy to obey God and areas where we clearly ignore his commands. There are times when it is convenient to obey the Lord and moments when we want to obey ourselves instead. Some of our plans clearly follow the Lord’s will and there are plans we do not want to consult him or submit to him. Perfect obedience is not easy. Only Jesus exemplifies this consummate surrender, and he too, had his share of struggles in this matter (as we see in his prayer in Gethsemane). This is where, for us, the art of discernment must enter. God gives us the freedom to choose, but we need to choose the real good over the illusion. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, known for her simplicity and littleness, experienced a real struggle within herself whether to follow her own inclinations or to surrender her heart to the Lord. In the end, her life shows us that if we are willing to obey the Lord’s command, and his command is basically love, God will give us the grace to accomplish all our actions in obedience and trust.
REFLECT:
Is there something that you believe God is asking you to do and since it is not easy, you are undecided whether to pursue it or not? How far can you go in your obedience to the Lord? Do you obey the Lord out of fear that he will punish you or do you obey because it is your way of showing love and respect to him as your Father? Ourparishpriest 2023
