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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