Matthew
21:28-32
Jesus
said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A
man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the
vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed
his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He
said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s
will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “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.”
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Reflection:
Aside
from Jesus and the man and his two sons there are others who play an important
role in the gospel reading. They are the following: Chief Priest, Elders of the
people, Tax collectors, the prostitutes and John the Baptist.
The chief
Priest and the elders of the people are those who were always in their place of
worship but ironically they oftentimes are wanting or lacking in terms of
living their faith. Jesus is actually telling the chief Priest and the elders
of the people about their faith that lacks action.
The chief
Priest and the elders of the people represents
the Son who said, Yes, sir, but did not go to work in the vineyard. They also
did not listen to the call of John the Baptist to turn away from their sins and
completely repent.
The tax
collectors and the prostitutes were obviously the sinners who humbly repented.
They represent the Son who said: “I will not go to the vineyard”, but
afterwards changed his mind and went and did his father’s will. They listened
to the call of John the Baptist: “Repent and change your ways for the kingdom
of God is forthcoming.”
What is
the relevance of the gospel to our lives? We who are all sinners like the tax
collectors and prostitutes and the son who initially said: “I will not go to
the vineyard.” But afterwards changed his mind and went. We are being called by
Jesus to repent from our sinful ways. It’s not anymore John who calls us out to
repentance but Jesus Himself.
We must
listen to this clarion call of Jesus for this is what He desires for us all. To
lead lives according to His will and not according to our sinful will. – Marino
J. Dasmarinas
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