Reflection for December 14, Tuesday Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (M) Matthew 21:28-32

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and 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.' He said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards 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:

What would you do when you hear the voice of God calling you to walk away from sin? 

Do you simply hear it? Or you hear and then act and live your life once again worthy in the eyes of God. Many of us might be dismissive of this call of God to repentance, we might simply brush it aside and dismiss it as nothing or insignificant to our lives in this world. 

But God did not only create us for this world alone there is something higher that exist beyond this world. There is something that follows after our existence in this world is over and this is none other than heaven or hell.  

In our gospel there is this son who was asked by his father to work in his vineyard (Matthew 21:28). The son initially said that he will not go to his father’s vineyard but upon pondering about the order of his father. The son had a change of heart and went to the vineyard to work there (Matthew 21:29).   

God  is inviting us to conversion. We who are all sinners are being encouraged by God to go through a metanoia or change of heart so that we could walk away from our sinfulness. 

Let us not worry if for so many times we said no to the Lord’s offer of conversion. For He will not count the many times that we refused Him what is important for the Lord is the here and now and our yes to Him now. 

Are we all not yet tired of committing sin? Are we not tired yet of a noisy life, life without peace and serenity? The reality is sin has not brought us anything good except more problems and a life without peace of mind. - Marino J. Dasmarinas