Reflection for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

 

   

BE TRUE TO YOUR WORDS

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32

 

The gospel reading of this Sunday dwells on the parable of the two sons that were asked by their father to go and work in the vineyard. While the first son refused to go but afterwards, repented and went, the second son accepted to go but later on, chose not to go. This parable is one of the last three parables of Jesus Christ before his passion as recorded by St. Matthew. The other two are the parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matt. 21:33-45) and the parable of the Wedding Feast (Matt. 22:1-14) and together, the three are referred to as the Parables of Rejection.

Of the two sons, it is the second that is said not to have done the will of his father. The reason is because he promised but could not deliver. He is like most of our Nigerian politicians who during political campaigns (in order to get the people’s votes), promise to accomplish so much for the people but once elected, end up doing so little or nothing for them. Like our politicians, the second son is not a man of his words. This parable therefore is an indictment against having religious beliefs with no practical consequence, making promises we never honor, making vows or resolutions we never keep, and making plans we never fulfill. If we truly claim to be followers of Jesus, then, we have to prove it with actions beyond mere pious words. Performance far outweighs promises and we are what we do, not what we say we will do.

In addition, the parable speaks about those that God will accept in His Kingdom on the last day. God does not pay so much attention to the fact that one has not believed in Him at any point in one’s life. If someone begins to have faith in God and no longer sins, he/she may have greater chances of being accepted in the kingdom of God than the one who claims to be a believer but never keeps to the terms of the faith. This is the same point which the prophet Ezekiel makes in the first reading: If the wicked man does what is good and right, after turning away from the sins he committed, he will save his life (Ezekiel 18: 27).

Also, the parable is a warning against any kind of self-righteousness because of our beliefs. Being called Christians does not simply entitle us to enter the kingdom of God. Our actions qualify us. Jesus warns us that tax collectors and harlots may stand a better chance of entering the kingdom because their actions demonstrate that their repentance is from the heart rather than words alone (Matt. 21:31). Finally dear friend, actions they say speak louder than words. Today, let us strive to devise concrete means of doing God’s will and putting our Christian faith into action. If we want to live more effectively, then we have to put into effect the principles of effective living. May God bless us this day and may he grant us the grace to be His true followers both in words and in deeds. Amen