Words of Spirit and Life

Theme: REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS

• Ezekiel 18:25-28;
• Psalm 24:4-9. R/ v. 6;
• Philippians 2:1-11
• Matthew 21:28-32

1. Today is the 26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Year A. The readings today tell us to repent and believe the good news! To repent is to turn away from sin and from the world; and to believe the good news is to believe not only in God, but in a God of love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation! The God of Jesus Christ!

In fact the first words of Jesus Christ in the gospel of Mark which is the first and most original gospel are “Repent, and believe the gospel.” (Mk 1:15; NJB) And in fact we begin the most important season of the Liturgical Year, that is, Lent-Easter with these words as we are signed with ashes on Ash-Wednesday: “Repent and believe the gospel.”!

Again, the readings today tell us to repent and believe the gospel! The gospel today tells us that a man had two sons. He told the first son to work in his vineyard, but he refused, but later he relented and he worked in the vineyard! He said the same thing to the second son and he consented immediately, but did not work in the vineyard! Which of the two sons did the father’s will? The first of course!  

The gospel continues to tell us that the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before the chief priests and elders of the people! This is because the tax collectors and prostitutes repented and believed the good news, but the chief priests and the elders of the people did not repent and believe the good news!

As in Mt 3:15; 5:6; and 6:33, the word “righteousness” means the “saving activity of God”. (CSB; Mt 3:14-15) The righteousness of John points to the “saving activity of God” in Jesus Christ!

2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us that when a good man renounces his good and does bad, he will die; but when a wicked man renounces his wickedness and does good, he will live! To begin with, the first reading tells us about individual/personal responsibility, that is, we will not be punished for the sins of our parents or grandparents, but we will be punished for our own sins!

More than that the first reading tells us about five other important things: (i) In every good man there is evil and in every evil man there is good. (ii) Good man can become bad and bad man can become good. (iii) Be good, do not become bad. (iv) Good brings life, but evil brings death. (v) Repent from evil and be good!

3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm is a prayer of repentance. It is a “prayer for forgiveness and guidance” (CSB) Thus we responded three times:

“Remember your mercy, Lord.” (Ps 24:6; Sunday Missal (SM))

As in the Eucharist, that is, make present, real and effective your mercy, Lord!

The responsorial psalm has three stanzas. The first and third stanzas (vv. 4-5. 8-9) ask for God’s guidance and the second stanza (vv. 6-7) asks for God’s forgiveness. Thus the second stanza from which the response is taken:

“Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth. In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord.” (Ps 24:6-7; SM)

4. The second reading also has something important to tell us. The second reading tells us to be united! More importantly, the second reading tells us that pride divides us, that is, when we think of ourselves first, when we think of our interest first, when we think that we are better than others, when we compete and compare ourselves with others, etc; but humility unites us, that is, when we think of others first, when we think that others are better than us, when we think of others interest first, when we do not compete or compare with others, etc. Most importantly, the second reading tells us to be humble as Jesus Christ was humble! 

Jesus Christ was the Son of God, but he humbled himself and became the Servant of God, the Suffering Servant of God. That is why he became man and became lower than man by accepting death, death on the cross; but God raised him up high and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

Amen