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.”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
How often have I responded to others as the second son in Matthew’s gospel responded to his father, “Sure I can help you!” only to let something else get in the way? How easy it is to say the words “yes” and yet how difficult it is to actually live out the “yes” in our daily lives.
I wonder what obstacle got in the son’s way. How quickly did he say yes to his father’s order? How quickly did he then decide not to go? One is left to wonder about the specific details in the story.
What are those obstacles that get in my way of living out my faith, my yes to Jesus? As a Lasallian educator how do I respond to my students, my colleagues when they ask for help? Do I quickly say yes only to perhaps regret saying so?
I pray today for the continued courage and strength to move beyond those obstacles that keep me from living out my “yes” to Jesus. Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…Live Jesus in our hearts, forever! St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!
Mr. John M. Knight – President
De La Salle Collegiate High School – Warren, MI
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.