Ezekiel:
18:25-28; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32
Be Prepared to Change Your Mind.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about two brothers with attitudes that were the exact opposite of one another. The first brother seemed rebellious, while the second seemed docile. Their father asked them to go and work in the vineyard. The first son’s response was a definite ‘No’, while the second son’s response was a whimsical ‘Yes’. The first son later changed his mind and went to work in the vineyard, while the one who said ‘Yes’ never went. None of them was perfect, but at least the first son, after deep thought, changed his mind and obeyed his father.
This parable was addressed to the Jewish leaders, who portrayed themselves as the chosen ones. They promised to obey God and keep his words. But their lives were a far cry from their profession. They disobeyed God and rejected the Son of God sent to them and put him to death. But the tax-collectors and sinners changed their minds from following their own ways to accepting Jesus and his teaching. They will enter the kingdom of God long before the Jewish leaders.
In the first reading, Ezekiel reminded the people that those who commit sins will die because of their sins. God’s ways are always fair and just. A virtuous person should be consistent in doing what is right till the end. Therefore, we pray for the gift of final perseverance. This special grace enables a person to remain in a state of holiness and die in friendship with God. It makes it possible to remain steadfast in goodness and grace till the exact moment of death. According to the teaching of St. Augustine, this grace cannot be merited by human effort or good works alone. It is a free, unearned gift from God’s mercy. Therefore, we must cooperate with God’s daily graces and rely on him to avoid mortal sin. The Church views it as the most important grace because eternal salvation depends entirely on dying in a state of grace.
Ezekiel stresses further that if a wicked person “turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die” (Ezekiel 18:27-28). Herein lies the power to change our minds from the path of injustice to follow the path that leads to life. Hence, the first son changed his mind and obeyed his father. The second son, on the other hand, refused to obey because he was stuck in his self-righteous attitude. He did not keep to his word.
The second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians overshadows the first and third readings. It is called the kenotic hymn from the Greek word meaning “to empty out.” Christ emptied himself of all glory and became a slave, a servant in the form of man. Christ’s self-emptying or self-humiliation went so far as to accept obedient death, even death on the cross. Because of this, God gave him a name indicating a role Jesus now exercises that he did not exercise before. The name is Lord. St. Paul encourages the Philippians to strive for unity, to humble themselves for the sake of others. He added, “Your attitude must be that of Christ.” Because Christ’s died on the cross to save us all, we must also “empty ourselves out” for others. Hence, St. Paul exhorts us not to think of our own importance, but to think of ourselves as reluctant servants, sinners, prostitutes, unjust dealers; we must “empty ourselves” and believe in Jesus the Lord. We can do it, because he has made it possible.
Because we are human beings, prone to making mistakes, we must be ready to change our minds and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness for our sins. The best way to do this is to acknowledge our failings and shortcomings and make use of the sacrament of reconciliation. Be faithful to our prayer life and be committed to our families. We must also learn to say “I am sorry” to one another, forgive one another readily, and live in peace with one another. May the Lord of peace enable us to live in peace with one another. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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