St. Francis Xavier Petoskey

2 days ago

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of a father who has two sons. He goes to the first and says, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The son says, “No,” but later changes his mind and goes. The father asks the second son the same thing. He says, “Yes, sir,” but he does not go.

The vineyard in the Bible is often a symbol of Israel, God’s chosen people. God has entrusted His vineyard to His people and expects them to respond to His call. But Jesus uses this familiar image to speak not only about Israel but also about us.

The question for us is simple: When God says, “Go and work in my vineyard today,” what is our response?

Sometimes we are like the first son. We say “no” to God. We hesitate. We make excuses. Perhaps we think, I am too busy. Someone else can do it. I am not ready. But later, we change our minds and say yes. And that yes matters to God.

At other times, we can be like the second son. We say all the right things. We say, “Yes, Lord.” We come to Mass. We pray. We call ourselves Christians. But when God asks us to serve, forgive, reach out, teach our children the faith, help someone in need, or become more involved in the life of the Church, our “yes” can remain only words.
Jesus reminds us today that God is looking for more than words. He is looking for a response expressed in our lives.

The vineyard is still here. It is the Church, our parish, our families, our community, and the people God places in our path.

Every day, God says to each of us: “Go and work in my vineyard today.”

He may be calling us to volunteer, to serve, to forgive someone, to encourage a struggling family member, to pray for someone, to become more faithful at Mass, or simply to be a witness to Christ in our daily lives.

And perhaps the most beautiful message of the Gospel is that it is never too late to change our answer. The son who first said no eventually went. God gives us the grace to change our hearts and begin again.

So today, let us not ask only, “Did I say yes to God?” Let us ask something deeper:

“Did I live my yes ... See MoreSee Less