HOMILY OF THE 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32
THEME: PERFECT OBEDIENCE
In our today gospel Jesus invites us to perfect obedience.
Jesus presented a parable before the chief priests and the elders of the people. In this parable, he presents a scenario where a father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first initially refuses but later complies, while the second agrees but doesn’t follow through. When asked which son did the father’s will, they acknowledge the first. Jesus then criticizes them, stating that even sinners, like tax collectors and prostitutes, have repented and believed in John the Baptist’s message, while they, the religious elite have not.
The Jesus didn’t pick either of the two boys, because none of them is a perfect example to follow. We cannot say yes, and mean no, or we say no and mean yes. However, we are not meant to judge them either., because oftentimes, we response to situations spontaneously either because of the circumstance around us or the manner in which the situation is presented to us.
Perfect decision for God is a product of deep reflection and open willingness look through our choices. More so, following Jesus is not a question of our status in the church or prominence in our religious communities, it is a function of an appropriate responses to God’s call at a given time; being able to decide for him with an unwavering hope.
Moreover, those who are standing should take care lest they fall. We are warned to watch our steps lest we fall from grace. And the Lord says in the first reading,
“When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.”
The journey of faith from the start to the finish is not a task we can face alone. We need the support of our community of faith. Hence, Paul exhorts us in the second reading,
“If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind.”
As a worshiping community, we lean on one another and learn from Jesus, our perfect example of obedience. He is a perfect example of sacrifice, who taught us to keep others in mind in whatever we do. Through him, we learn to give a sincere yes to the call of God, despite the crosses involved.
In our responses to God, may we true and sincere. Amen.
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