Word to the Wise
Tuesday, December 16, 2014 - 3rd Week of Advent - Tues
[Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13 and Matt 21:28-32]"Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in righteousness, you did not believe him but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him." [Matthew]
Acceptance and rejection are a major feature of the Gospel of Matthew. That may be one reason why so many find the Sermon on the Mount very discomforting! We react to what seems like a "take it or leave it" situation, preferring to negotiate and get options. However, we may find ourselves bargaining away the very hope that can make all the difference.
Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, one of which said he would do his father's will and then did not, and the other who initially refused but then changed his mind and did what his father requested. He tells this parable to the "chief priests and elders of the people" during his last days in Jerusalem. They were, at least publicly, the ones who promised to do the father's will, but Jesus says they failed. The tax collectors and prostitutes were people who were by definition public sinners had refused to do God's will and yet were converted by John the Baptist (and by Jesus). Jesus tells the chief priests and elders that they are inferior to those tax collectors and prostitutes!
Advent has an aspect of conversion to it. Can we find areas of our lives where we said we would do the will of God and then bargained it away? Are there areas where we refused and then realized the right thing to do and did it? Can we do some "soul-searching" in preparation for Christmas along with all the gift-searching? What is it that can cause us to reject what Jesus tells us is the "will of the Father?" A clean conscience may be the best gift we can give ourselves! AMEN