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I love how the Bible describes deep human realities and motivations in the simplest way possible.  As a person who loves stories (books, novels, etc.) as literature it amazes me that it’s able to do that so well.  Jesus’ parables are brilliant at that.  They get to the point and leave open lots of other details that we the listener fill in based on our lived experience.  This Sunday’s Gospel is a case in point (Matthew 21:28-31).  A farmer had two sons (wait, I have two sons) and asks them to go work in the vineyard.  One says, “Yes” but doesn’t go; the other contrarian one says, “No” but changes his mind and goes.  If you’ve ever had teenagers you know what that looks like.  I don’t have a vineyard, but I have a lawn that needs mowing…  And Jesus then asks, “What do you think?” 

            What do I think?  First question is, why do they do what they do?  What made the one son say Yes but not do it?  Was the work too hard?  Was he blowing off his dad?  Was he wanting to appear agreeable and liked, but then chose selfishness over his father’s will?  Was the one who said No just being annoying?  In the parable he “changes his mind and went”—in other words, repents?  One translation has:  “afterward he regretted it and went.”  Did the son regret being “selfish” and disappointing his dad?  You’ve got a parent and two kids—talk about the messiness of human relationships!—as an example of the motivations of our words and actions in our relationship with God. 

            In other words, this brilliant little parable asks us to think about our motivations when it comes to doing what’s right (doing God’s will).  Both said one thing, and both “changed their minds.”  Why?  Out of a sense of self, do we say No and later regret it?  What are we missing out on by saying No and not “changing our minds”?  How often do we say Yes to things we don’t follow through on?  Do we “change our mind” and not follow through out of self-ish reasons?  What does all this do in the long run in our relationships?  How is all of this like our relationship with God and the life God offers? 

            If you look around, there are LOTS of ways God asks us to follow and act….

Peace,

Pr. Christian