A MOVING CHRISTIAN OF MOVED CHRIST

First Reading: Ezk 18:25-28
Second Reading: Phil 2:1-11
Gospel: Mt 21:28-32

We are in the twenty sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We must have heard number of times the verse; “Not anyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in Heaven” (Mt 7:21). This verse is exemplified in today’s gospel reading. Now, the Will of the Father is “whoever sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life” (Jn 6:40). The eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son (Jn 17:3). St. John says that to know God, one ought to have love (1 Jn 4:7). The definition of Love according to St. John is that ‘it is God who loved us first without He being loved by us’ (1 Jn 4:10). Thus, love of God is not a response nor a return for something we have done for God. Love of God is sheer grace. In Love, God looked at the good of His creature namely human being. In the second reading St. Paul sings the love of God made manifest in the Incarnation (Phil 2:6-11). From top, God looked down on the pitiful state of human beings. To rescue the perishable human condition God did not stop with looking but He acted on it through the Incarnation. Yes, God did act on it. The God who created the universe with mere words, took concrete step for saving humanity from Sin. Our God moved to save us! He moved from His place in heaven and took upon himself a human form (Phil 2:7). So dear friends, it is not the word that saves us but the mere action of Christ on the Cross that saves us. He made this moves just to do us good. His willed our good although we don’t deserve it. It is because of this that the Christianity defines LOVE as willing the good of the other. God’s love is concretely expressed in Christ. Thus, we need to express our love for God and neighbour concretely. This is the crux of today’s readings.

In the Gospel, we have the parable of two sons. This parable is addressed to Jewish leadership. They had questioned Jesus’ authority. In response to that Jesus gives this parable to make sense of what is going on. The first son neglects the request of His father. This refusal was done whole heartedly, that’s why he had to change his mind. His refusal to the father’s request was the breaking of the 4th commandment; Honour your father and mother. Yet, his repentance for that sin is shown when he changes his mind and fulfils the request of his father. He sinned through words but repents through the action. Whereas the second son, honoured the 4th commandment with his words but failed in actualizing. Love for the father should be expressed in action as God expressed His love through concrete action. The non-movement of the second son brings condemnation. The first son symbolizes sinners who sincerely refused the call to repentance of John the Baptist. The second son symbolizes Jewish leadership who welcomed the message of John the Baptist without incorporating them into their action. Jesus condemns the non-integral life of Jewish leadership through their words. “Action speaks louder than words” is an age-old proverb. “Action speaks for one’s salvation” is the Christian proverb. Today we speak of Christ because of His concrete action on the Cross. Thus, as Christians we are called to fulfil the commandments through action.

The first reading speaks about the consequences of one’s action. God being merciful forgives the sinner if he turns away from His wicked ways. At the same time, God being a righteous judge, punishes the person who turns to evil at the last hour. The conversion of sinner proceeds from the realization of one’s sins and experience of God’s love. Rather, the conversion of righteous to sinful life proceeds from pride, unbelief, lack of love and perseverance. If a person who has lived so well without any defilement turns to evil at the last hour s/he loses heaven because of that action. This last minute fall shows that the person has lived well not out of love but out of fear of hell. Our God wants love from us not dreadful fear towards Him as cruel judge. Probably, the second son in the parable accepted the request of his father out of fear. But the first son who whole heartedly denied the request of his father converts in love towards his father. That’s why it is very easy for the sinner to turn towards love and gain life than the righteous to remain steadfast in love.

As we remember St. Theresa of Child Jesus today, let us imbibe her spirituality of love. She did everything for love of God and neighbour. This love has made her a saint within short duration. This year being the 150th birth year of this doctor of the Church, let us learn from this great female doctor who teaches the Church to show love in action. If we have denied the call of love, let us turn to that love in action. If we have loved, let us persevere in that love. Not saying ‘Yes Lord,’ but be manifesting the Lord. Our God moved so that we make the move. Let us move ourselves in the Lord.     

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