Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 27, 2020 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Ezek 18:25-28; Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5; Matt 21:28-32]Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" [Matthew]
Today's gospel scripture teaches a lesson on two different levels: cultural and religious. On the cultural level, as scripture scholar John Pilch points out in THE CULTURAL WORLD OF JESUS, the son who said, "Yes, sir!" but didn't go would have been considered the better son because he was respectful to his father's public command, even if he didn't later carry it out!! The father's "honor" was not lessened by a publicly disobedient son like the first one who said he would not go but later DID go. This is the MIddle Eastern cultural ethos, which has not changed since Jesus' time! "HONOR" (or what we Westerners would call "face") is of crucial importance in all relationships.
However, Jesus did not ask which son was the "better" son, but which son DID HIS FATHER'S WILL. The chief priests and elders, to whom Jesus addressed this parable, publicly said "Yes" to God but were not, in fact, doing the Father's will. The tax collectors and sinners, on the other hand, who were considered lesser and disobedient people by the chief priests and elders, changed their minds, and followed Jesus. The tax collectors and sinners turned out to be the "better" children.
The challenge for us is to look at our "yes-es" and our "no-es" to God. Is there a gap between our public faith and our private behavior? If so, how can we change our minds and do the Father's will? It may mean that we will have to call out to the "tax collectors and sinners:" "WAIT FOR ME!" AMEN