TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Thus says the LORD:
You say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die.
Psalm 25:4-9
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Philippians 2:1-11
Brothers and sisters:
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
(NRSVCE) Meditation
In light of the gospel message, the words "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves," can apply to the chief priests who could not follow the example of the believing tax collectors and prostitutes. Perhaps they could not accept that they could change. Perhaps they just wanted to feel superior. The elders pretended to do the will of God and represented themselves that way to the community. They are represented by the son in the parable who said he would work in the vineyard but did not go.
Jesus challenged the judgmental attitude that kept people from accepting that repentance was possible. Anyone can put up an appearance but are they really doing God's will? It requires selflessness and humility.
The call of God is on all of us without exception. Even if we go astray or choose self-interest, we still are called to work for the Lord. We never have to be discouraged that it is too late to turn to God and we can encourage others to embrace the call of God on their lives whenever they come to him.
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