Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
My dear parishioners,
God is Good!!! All the Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!!
The oracles in this portion of the book lead up to a sweeping overview of Israel’s history as a people disloyal to God (chapter 20). But before Ezekiel presents that sad history, he takes the time to explain that it did not have to be that way. Israel always had the choice to be faithful. It will help for them to understand how God measures innocence or guilt. This knowledge will give them every encouragement to learn how to walk with God, even if they have stumbled in the past.
The parable of the two sons at first glance seems rather simple. It is unique to Matthew’s Gospel. It also has a rather complicated textual history wherein some manuscripts reverse the order of the sons. This can be detected in some English translations. The parable’s very strong allegorical elements have led some scholars to conclude that the parable is not literally from Jesus but from the early Church. While those are interesting issues, the preacher’s task is to unfold the text as it currently lies before us.
Two sons and two responses. The story begins by Jesus asking his listeners their opinion regarding two sons and their diverse responses to their Father’s request to go into the vineyard and work. The first son replied that he would not go into the vineyard as his father requested. But later he changed his mind and went. The second son, on the other hand, agreed to go into the vineyard as his father asked but did not do that. Jesus concludes with a simple question: Which of the two sons did his father’s will? The answer is simple: The first son obeyed his father. That should be the end of this simple exchange, but it is not. The story now moves into a strong allegorical interpretation of the response of each son.
First son. The son who initially refused to go into the vineyard but later changed his mind and went symbolizes the tax collectors and the prostitutes who ultimately responded positively to John the Baptist’s ministry described as “the way of righteousness.” This amounts to John’s special role in God’s plan of salvation. These represent the gentiles who at first refused to obey God but later repented and accepted the Gospel.
Second son. The son who failed to go into the vineyard despite his profession represents the chief priests and elders who failed to believe John the Baptist. These Jewish leaders claimed to be obedient to God but actually rejected God by rejecting the Gospel. The entire story and the actions of the two sons are intended to present a lesson in what constitutes authentic obedience. This is the kind of obedience that responds in faith to the new things God is doing.
Excerpts from “Sunday Homily Helps”, is used by permission of Franciscan Media. www.FranciscanMedia.org.©2023. All rights reserved
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Aloysius