October 1, 2023
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
The readings for today hold a common theme. They tell us about repentance and conversion and about the importance of doing things according to the will of God instead of our own selfish needs.
In the First Reading (Ezek. 18:25-28), the prophet Ezekiel makes it quite clear. The people of Israel have rebelled against God and turned to idol worship. As punishment, they have been taken into exile by the Babylonians. Like stubborn children they regard their punishment to be extreme and unfair. Ezekiel delivers to them these words of reproach from God: “Thus says the LORD: You say, ‘The LORD’s way is not fair! Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Are not your ways unfair?’” (Ezek. 18:25).
God continues to hold the people accountable and tells them each individual has two choices of action which will lead to either condemnation or reconciliation: “When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life.” (Ezek. 18:26-27).
In other words, if the people of Israel do not take ownership of the evil acts they have committed, they will never be reconciled to God as the holy nation they were chosen to be. But if they admit their failings and seek repentance, they will have a life of harmony in the presence of the LORD in the land they were promised.
Jesus gives a similar lesson to the Jewish leaders in the Gospel from Matthew in what is called “The Parable of the Two Sons.” (Mt. 21:28-32). This is the scene of the reading: Jesus has made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem at the revelry of the people, presenting himself as a humble king riding on a donkey. He has also caused a ruckus in the Temple, turning over the merchants’ tables for defiling his Father’s house.
The chief priests and the elders confront Jesus and question who has given him the authority to do these things. But he eludes them by answering a question with a question. Then he precedes to tell them the parable as turnabout for their accusation.
He tells them about the owner of a vineyard who has two sons. When the man tells his first son to go work in the vineyard, the son refuses. But later he changes his mind and goes to work. When the man gives the same order to the other son, he agrees, but he does not go after all. Jesus then asks the chief priests and the elders, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” (Mt. 21:31a).
The Jewish leaders respond by saying that the first son who had refused the landowner’s request, but later complied, is the one who had done the will of his father. Jesus then gives them a sharp rebuke, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that you did not later change your minds and believe him.” (Mt. 21:31b-32).
When John the Baptist began preaching about repentance, many sinners, such as tax collectors and prostitutes, accepted and followed his message. They are like the person described by Ezekiel who turns away from wickedness and does what is right. They are also like the first son in the parable who refuses his father, but then turns away from his evil ways and obeys.
The chief priests and elders, however, did not accept the repentance preached by John the Baptist. So, they are like the once virtuous person from Ezekiel who receives punishment for turning to evil. And, according to Jesus, they are like the second son, a sinner who disobeys his father.
This is a shocking insult for the chief priests and the elders to hear. They consider themselves to be the most virtuous, upstanding citizens of Jerusalem. They feel they have no need for repentance. They are not guilty of any wickedness for which they must atone. In fact, this confrontation with Jesus is one in a long series of clashes which will eventually lead to his arrest and conviction.
As always, there is a message in these readings for us today. Just like the people from the days of Ezekiel, and the first century Jewish leaders who confront Jesus, we are a stubborn, sinful people. We think that what God asks of us is unfair. Or we act in a hypocritical way. We say we are going to do things God’s way, but then turn around and do the opposite.
We would do well to follow the advice of St. Paul against this type of arrogant sinfulness: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, who humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”
(Phil. 2:3-5; 8).
