For some years now, we have heard of the New Evangelization and in some ways, the scripture today emanates that. This is something for you to ponder as I continue on. Keep it on the back burner for now but not to far back.
Today’s story begins by introducing us to a familiar scenario of a father who asks his sons to go out into the vineyard to work. Just imagine yourself as one of the listeners back then. You are introduced to a story of two sons. That definitely brings memories to you of other stories about brothers from the Hebrew scripture. So you are now thinking there is going to be some kind of tension between the brothers. You anticipate some problem in this story before it is even told.
So can you imagine what the audience then was thinking as Jesus began his story; “What is your opinion? A man had two sons!” After giving the command to go and work in the vineyard, the father in the story expects an answer from them. Not excepting just mere words, the father is expecting and desires a real commitment from them. At the beginning, the first son responds negatively, but then repents, has a complete change of heart, a conversion of sorts, and goes out into the vineyard to work. The second son acknowledges with lip service his father’s request and gives in, agreeing to go out into the vineyard to work, but does not follow through on his word.
The two sons represent the chief priests and elders, and the religious outcasts who followed John the Baptist’s call to repentance. By the answer they gave to Jesus’ question, the religious leaders, called the Sanhedrin along with the chief priests, condemn themselves. As religious leaders and chief priests they claim to be obedient to God, but they are blind to the fact that authentic obedience includes responding in faith to new things God is doing. After all, they reject Jesus not to mention John the Baptist.
In the end, the sinners of Israel, described as tax collectors and prostitutes,
Rejected, and despised, will take their place in the kingdom, while Jesus’ adversaries will be shut out. Jesus points to the primacy of deeds over words. The greatest crime of the leaders is not their hypocrisy but their failure to teach, their unwillingness to understand that physicians heal the sick, not those who are well. Instead they turn their backs on the sick, the sinner, even after seeing John call the most reviled to genuine conversion. This intentional blindness is what Jesus shows in this story.
Those who would otherwise be judged as outside the reach of salvation because of their rejection of the outward form of religion, may in fact be those who are most sensitive to their need for God’s grace, and because of that repent and serve God meaningfully.
The same thing in the ways of God are found in today’s Old Testament reading from Ezekiel in which the ways of God, and the ways of God’s people stand in stark contrast. God asks for an honest assessment of just whose ways are not fair, God’s or the peoples? We know the answer.
Today’s parable give us a glimpse into the radical nature of the kingdom of God. Although this parable may contain a judgment on Jewish religious leaders, that of the Sanhedrin and chief priests, Matthew intended a much wider understanding and application of its message, even to us. In this parable, each one of us can recognize our own personal experience. We ourselves, can become blind to what God is doing in the world around us and for that matter, what God is trying to do in us!
Could this parable be speaking about those who seem to be very religious and subservient at the start, but in reality may never sufficiently probe the depths of God’s mercy to truly know the heart and mind of God? The parable is a lesson for those who claim to be Christian but do not worship as Christians or live the Christian life, compared to those who come later but never claimed to be religious. Is there a time in your life where this fit? I remember a time in mine that did!
Today, many claim to know Christ but do not live the Christian life. It doesn’t matter so much what you say on the outside if it is not backed up with what is in the inside, in your heart, and in your actions. Our no’s to God happen all through
our lives as does our yes’s. What was our feeling deep within ourselves, when we said yes to God but failed to follow through? In this case, we open ourselves to the devils prompt and most likely sin entered into the picture. Just what the evil one wants. I can remember when I was very young, and my parents telling me and my brothers to stop calling each other names. (I won’t repeat what those names were but you can imagine) Anyway, we would say yes to them as they walked away but as soon as they were out of sight-guess what? We started the name calling again.
As an adult, how many times have we said yes when receiving Jesus in the Eucharist only to leave Church in this building until the next Sunday we decide to come to Mass? How easily our Church Efforts mean little more than saying yes and leaving it at that, with no fervor or excitement for what God’ grace is doing and having no enthusiasm for our conversion of heart, the renewal of ourselves through that grace, not to mention Jesus’ body and blood which we receive at mass.
The world around us yearns for the truly Good News from workers in the vineyard of our Lord – joyful and excited evangelizers who say yes to God and follow through with it allowing the Spirit of God to move them throughout their lives. The same is for us. Of course, there will be those who initially say no, but later repent and follow through with what God is calling them to do. And they are welcomed. The same is for us. Like I said earlier our no’s and our yes’s happen throughout our lives. God is patient, however, I would not want to test that. Would you?
Our parish here at St. Hubert is a parish with many who live the Christian life her in this building, and who take it with them when they leave it. For those who do not, let Jesus educate you, let Jesus inspire you, let Jesus love you, let the Spirit of God move you. This is a challenge for all of us in this world of ours but the reward is far better and can be seen in the lives we touch.
In our second treading today, we hear that although Paul is in prison and no longer can visit and preach to his beloved community in Phillipi, they are not without intercession and assistance. From his prison cell, Paul begs them to make his joy complete by being “of the same mind” and “having the same love”. Rather than being caught up in this worlds needless attractions, of this worlds broken and sinful ways of life, they are invited to enter into the life of Jesus Christ who emptied himself in order to find fullness and life. Paul is also speaking to us. Paul risked his life to bring about the Good news of Jesus Christ by a profound and resounding and sincere yes. Are we willing to risk whatever it takes so that God’s kingdom may be proclaimed and the Church established in the midst of this world? Can we approach the “New Evangelization” with a sense of enthusiasm shown in the way we live our lives and how our actions can speak to others with love and compassion? Will we say yes to God and mean it?
Our Lord is calling all of us to a transformation of heart and mind. Our Lord is calling all of us to work in the vineyard, to be his voice in a world that needs him so much. Let us be the evangelizers that he expects us to be.
If we are to be filled with the same Spirit that Jesus had we would have nothing to fear. This is what is being offered to us. What wonderful places our Christian communities can be: places of harmony and unity, of love and caring, of compassion and mutual support, of looking after each other’s needs. We have a great start here. Let us take it out to the greater community, wherever our travels lead us. Always remember, it is never too late to start.