Yes! No! May Be!

In today’s gospel Jesus tells the parable of two sons who say one thing and do another, (Mt 21:28-32). 

Asked by the father to go and work in the vineyard the first son says no but later reconsiders his decision and does the work. The second son, on the other hand, courteously says yes to the father but fails to do the work. Who actually did what his father wanted? Clearly it is the first son, the same one who had earlier said no to him.

Today’s Gospel story was meant to shock people who think they're okay spiritually but do not honestly examine how well they do the Father's will. Jesus said that tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom of God ahead of religious experts!

This text is about how our words match our actions when it comes to obedience to the will of God. It is both our actions and our words that communicate on which side of the fence we are standing whether it be obedient or rebellion.

God doesn't want right answers; he wants righteous actions. God doesn't want dutiful compliance to Church teachings; he wants obedience motivated by love and an enthusiastic attitude of serving in the mission of the Church.