Remember the rock band from Sweden called Abba? They sang a song that told us we can change our mind and to take a chance on me.
We often are called upon to change our mind in our everyday living. We may change our mind about big decisions, like a career change or moving to a new home. Sometimes we change our mind about simple things, like where to go to dinner tonight or what movie should we watch. My wife often changes her mind about what she will wear, yes she does this often.
As people of faith we are called to change, maybe not our minds, but our hearts, on our journey with Jesus.
There was a change of heart in today's Gospel. Jesus has just been challenged by the elders and chief priests about his authority. As he so often does, he turns the tables on his challengers by presenting a parable and asking a question. The parable is a landowner with two sons; one who insults his father to his face; no, I will not go. Yet this son has a change of heart and of mind and indeed goes to work in the vineyard. Then there is the other son, respectfully he answers his father with a Yes Sir! But we know that the second son did not mean anything by his yes and never goes to work in the vineyard. Who did the will of his father, Jesus asks and immediately the challengers answer the first son. Seems like the right answer, does it not? Then we hear the verbal slap down from the lips of Jesus, comparing the chief priests and elders to tax collectors and prostitutes, both of whom Jesus says will make their way to the kingdom of God before they will! Wow!
What's going on here? Jesus is teaching a lesson about many things: hypocrisy, humility and being able to change your heart and your mind! And this parable is also a lesson in obedience.
Let's be honest; both sons really don't respond to the father ideally. The initial no I will not go is disrespectful and hurtful. Yet the second sons Yes Sir, respectful and hopeful, turns out to be meaningless because he either never meant it or just did not care enough to go to the vineyard. The old saying is still true, actions speak louder than words. At least that first son seems to redeem himself, after his disrespectful reply by going to work in the vineyards.
Jesus' admonishing the chief priests and scribes can be a serious reminder for us to. While Jesus reminded them about their lack of response to what John had taught them, you and I have full knowledge of all that Jesus says, does, and more importantly is! Are we obedient to Him, are we humble in our relationship with Him, can we be hypocritical or do we, on prayer and reflection and relationship, have a change of heart and mind? Jesus demands nothing of us unreasonable or beyond what He gives to us. And He gives His everything.
For the faithful Catholic, and the not so faithful Catholic, and for the many, Jesus' teachings are conveyed to us in His Holy Word and His Church. How often does the Church ask of us obedience and humility and we answer: I will not. Or worse, we answer Yes but fail to follow Her teachings. In today's world, surveys and studies tell us that large numbers of Catholics see nothing wrong with artificial contraception, same-sex marriage and even the right to things like abortion and euthanasia. Another poll even indicates that nearly half of all Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Not my words but those of Jesus: I tell you, even tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven before you. We need to sit with this; we need to pray with this; we need to ask ourselves the hard and tough questions; will I be obedient, humble and experience that change of heart and mind?
In the week ahead, I challenge all of us to examine our conscious when it comes to those things we steadfastly and arrogantly cling to that are in total rejection of the teachings of Christ and the teachings of His Holy Church. Again, perhaps it can be another opportunity to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And just in case we are concerned for a loved one or a friend we believe living a life that separates them from Christ, then we should model our obedience and humility for them by our actions and our words. And pray for them with the same fervor St. Monica prayed for her son St. Augustine.
Yes, we can change our mind, and more importantly our hearts and take a chance on Jesus. For he took more than a chance on each of us, He gave us His everything and continues to do so. Will we respond with our obedience and humility and our whole heart and mind?
Actions speak louder than words!
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