October 1st 2023. The Twenty-sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
GOSPEL: Matthew 21, 28-32
Translated from a homily by Don Fabio Rosini broadcast on Vatican Radio
Don Fabio’s homily follows the Gospel
GOSPEL: 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 went and said to the first, “My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today”.
He answered, “I will not go”, but afterwards thought better of it and went.
The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, “Certainly, sir”, but did not go.
Which of the two did the father’s will?’ ‘The first’ they said.
Jesus said to them,
‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you.
For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
1. The parable of the two sons follows the confrontation of Jesus with the elders
This is the story where Jesus, who, right after His confrontation with the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem's temple, faces a crucial question. They challenge Him, asking by what authority He dares to perform the actions He does. His recent entrance into the temple resulted in a tumultuous scene: He overturned the tables, drove out everyone, and disrupted the marketplace. In response to their inquiry, "How do you dare to do this?" Jesus tells a parable about a man with two sons, each of whom is presented with the same request to work in the vineyard. One son responds initially with, "I don't feel like it," but later changes his mind and goes to work. The other son agrees at first but ultimately does not follow through. What this narrative underscores is that both sons share the same inclination — they both do not want to go to the vineyard. The first son openly admits it, while the second son pretends otherwise, but in reality, he does not wish to go either. Thus, the distinction between them lies in their response to their own desires; one acts against his own wishes, while the other does not.
2. In our world, following desires is held up as a fundamental good. But if we only followed our desires, we would not achieve anything.
First and foremost, we must acknowledge a fundamental truth: in our world, following our desires is often seen as a paramount principle, and we frequently hear that we should always only do things that we feel like doing. However, this perspective is not entirely accurate. It represents a fallacy of our culture, a contradictory and inconsistent belief system. If we exclusively obey our whims and desires, we will not make much progress in life or accomplish many of the tasks we eventually must undertake. Consider, for instance, if one were to study only when they felt like it, when would they earn a degree? If parents were to care for their children only when they felt like it, how would those children turn out? If individuals assisted others only when they felt like it, who would take care of the sick and aid those in need? If employees only went to work when they felt like it, who would contribute to the functioning of our world, and how much work would be accomplished? However, people often contradict their desire-based work ethic when they want to earn a living, gain recognition, build a home, or purchase a car. This principle is easily observable in the world. However, in the realm of spiritual life, this principle does not hold; it would be entirely absurd. If we perpetually act in accordance with our desires, we will remain stagnant, never progressing beyond our current state. We will forever remain as children. We must learn not to idolize our "self," our desires, our instincts, or our momentary inclinations. Society has its advocates of instinct, high priests of absolute spontaneity, individuals who advocate for complete fluidity of being, where one acts solely on their impulses. But observe the outcomes, consider the consequences of such an approach. It leads to stagnation, inconsistency, and unreliability. It is unworkable. If a fiance finds herself with a man completely enslaved to his desires, someone who only acts on what he feels like doing, she will find her life alongside such a person to be exceedingly challenging. What kind of life will she lead? How will she fare?
3. The second son is a deceiver. He does not wish to confront his father nor contradict his own desires. True transformation stems from obedience; authentic change in our lives comes when we confront our desires.
Hence, the parable Jesus tells us is not extraordinary in itself; rather, the key lies in distinguishing between appearance and reality, between saying yes without genuine introspection, and failing to express one's true feelings. The second son merely says yes not because he desires to do so, but because he wishes to please his father. This reflects another law, a fleeting desire for immediate comfort. It is living with superficiality, lacking self-awareness, and failing to comprehend one's true loves and innermost feelings. Undoubtedly, in today's world, with its prevailing psychology, there are some positive aspects, especially when it comes to seeking sincerity. Sincerity is undoubtedly a virtue, and this second son must examine himself for sincerity because he is, in essence, a deceiver. He avoids the turmoil of confronting his father and does not experience the challenge of contradicting his own desires. His compliance is superficial, as mentioned earlier. However, while sincerity is valuable, it is not an absolute certainty. This text conveys that the fundamental point is to be sincere and respond authentically to the Father's will. The crux of the matter, as posed by Jesus, is: which of the two truly carried out the father's will? In Rome, they say that you can recognize horses at the finish line, and you can judge people by their results. You can proclaim boundless love for your neighbour, but actions speak louder. You can utter countless good words, eloquently announcing the word of God, yet remain a poor practitioner of it. True transformation stems from obedience; authentic change in our lives comes when we confront our desires.
4. In Gethsemene, Jesus experiences the conflict of the son, but says, “not my will but yours be done”. True growth occurs when we transcend our individual wills. If we treat God as a personal chaplain whose duty it is to do our will, then we will end up in mediocrity.
Jesus Christ experienced this internal conflict in Gethsemane when He declared, "Not my will, but yours be done." The struggle between two wills was experienced by the holy Son of God when He took on our human nature. We, too, must be willing to embrace this conflict, to deny ourselves. We aim to attain the gift of a new life. We must transcend our individual wills; our personal plans are not absolute. Furthermore, God is not merely a facilitator who blesses our desires. We cannot expect God to conform to our plans. Once, I heard a saintly monk say, "You come to this church to ask God to fulfil your desires, but I strive to live here in this church, seeking God's guidance to do what He desires.” That's the essence of it. My desires are inconsequential; I don't seek God to bend to my will, but to reshape my life according to His purpose. God doesn't lead me into mediocrity or pander to my desires; He teaches me to change my mindset. The key is not to be imprisoned by our own desires but to have the capacity to live through transformation. In today's world, there are advocates of immediate gratification and absolute spontaneity, but when you look at the results, you find emptiness and inconsistency. If we always act on our desires, we remain stagnant, never progressing beyond our current state. We need to learn to deny ourselves, to break free from our self-centered inclinations." So, this parable's significance lies in its call for sincerity and authentic response to the Father's will. Ultimately, what matters most is not what we say but what we do. Obedience to God challenges our own desires, and that is where true transformation and growth occur in our spiritual journey
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