Homily for 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Matt 21: 28-32
Holy Name of Jesus, Valhalla, N.Y.
Sept. 27, 2008                                                                                     

This is a slight rewrite of the homily I gave on 9/28/08 at St. Anthony’s Church, Elizabeth, N.J.

“Which of the two did his father’s will?” (Matt 21: 31).

Neither the chief priests nor we have any difficulty answering the question Jesus poses at the end of his short parable.  Of course it’s the 1st son, the one who changes his mind and goes to the vineyard, who does what his father asked.  It’s actions and not nice words that matter.

The actions that Jesus is speaking of, the actions that his Father wants from us, are actions of repentance.  In the 1st reading the prophet Ezekiel speaks of wicked people turning away from their evil and being rewarded by God with life (18:27-28).  He also refers to good people turning to wickedness and forfeiting life by that unhappy choice (18:24,26).

Jesus points out to the chief priests and elders that they have seen many people, disreputable people, turn from their sins—tax collectors and prostitutes, for example (21:31)—and start to live good lives, like that 1st son going to the vineyard.  These, says Jesus, are entering the kingdom of heaven, are drawing close to God and to eternal life (21:31).  He adds that the chief priests and elders, who ought to be leading the people toward salvation, have had no change of heart, no conversion.  They’re quite like the 2d son, saying the right things but not living up to their words.

We might be reminded of various good resolutions we’ve made.  You’ve all made good resolutions, haven’t you?  I’m going to stop smoking next week.  I’m going to end this inappropriate relationship.  I’m going to lose 20 pounds.  I’m going to study seriously this year.  I’m going to go to the sacrament of Reconciliation.

We might be reminded of people who profess, sometimes very publicly—in books, on TV, on a campaign trail, even carrying a rosary—that they’re good Catholics.  They just disagree with 2 or 3 or 4 of the fundamental moral teachings of the Church and sort of ask, “So what?”

Or we might be reminded of a parent who admonishes a child, “Do as I say and not as I do,” or of a clergyman whose actions belie his preaching.

Words without actions don’t mean much, or as we often say, “Talk is cheap.”  You’ve got to do more than talk the talk; you’ve got to walk the walk.  St. Francis is alleged, inaccurately, to have told his followers. “Preach always.  If necessary, use words”; in other words, preach 1st by your example.  Regardless of who 1st said it, make sure there’s a consistency to your life, an integrity.

If any of us should examine our life, surely we’d find some inconsistency between what we believe and what we do, between what we urge on others and what we do.  This shouldn’t be shocking—scandalous failures aside—because we’re human.  We have our foibles, our blind spots, and our sins.

Jesus calls us to try to face ours sins and repent, like the 1st son in his parable, like the tax collectors and prostitutes whom he led to God during his ministry.  Jesus calls us to consistency, to integrity:  to make our deeds match our words; not only to say we’re Catholic Christians but to live as his disciples and members of his Church; to live our particular callings as students, workers, citizens, spouses, parents, priest; to live as people of light—the light of Christ; as people of life—Christ came that we “might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10); as people of love—for God is love, and Christ leads us to God. The collect this morning reminded us of that the Father’s immense power expresses itself in pardoning and forgiving.

On the last day, when Christ asks who did his Father’s will, may all of us be able to answer, “I did,” because we really tried to turn from our sins and to live by Christ’s teachings.