HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF ADVENT.
THEME: DECEITFUL AND OBEDIENT SONS.
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul.
‘..And even when you saw it, you did not afterwards repent and believe him’
The parable of the two sons as recorded in the Gospel of today (Matthew 21:28-32) is addressed to Jewish leaders who refused to believe in Jesus. The first son initially refused to obey but then regretted his decision and obeyed, while the second son at first appeared to obey but never actually followed through.
The key word used in the parable which is translated as repented is metamelomai , which possesses two senses of interpretation; ‘to have regret over something which one wishes it could have been undone’ (be very sorry). Or ‘to change one’s mind on something, without focus on regret’ (have second thoughts). Either way, the basic idea is repentance.
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The issue is genuine obedience that follows a change of heart versus deceitful obedience. Jesus gives reasons why the Jewish leaders would be excluded from the Kingdom, namely that they had not obeyed God’s message brought by John the Baptist and had refused to believe. In this they had been worse than the very tax collectors and harlots they despised so much. Sometimes, we are worse than the people we condemn.
The message is clear: God requires productive and obedient lifestyle from His children. What we claim to be in the Church and how we appear are not enough. Church membership and profession of faith must never be separated from believing and doing. Talk and external appearance are cheap; what counts is actually doing the will of the father from the heart.
God has the right to ask His children to do certain things. But man also is a free moral agent. God, unlike the devil, does not force obedience. We can either be the first son or the second. The choice is ours. These are the two courses that people have taken in their response to God’s calling. The Father’s invitation to work was impartial but the response was personal. Running away from our responsibility doesn’t remove it. It is still against us that we did not fulfill it.
There will be a time when we will not be able to change our minds. It will be too late to do so. God is concerned with what we have become, and not what we were. We can deceive ourselves but not God. Good people are true to their words. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
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