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Vocation Meditation - September 28
Used with permission from http://www.mscperu.org/
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and challenged his authority. So Jesus asked them this question. "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I am going, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe Him."
This parable reveals the kind of response the Jewish people gave to God who called them to be His people. They were the 'elder son' invited to live in fidelity in His Kingdom. The Jews pledged to obey God and to walk in His ways. But they hesitated. The tax collectors and prostitutes instead, and those who were considered outcasts and sinners were also given the same invitation. They were those who said they would go their own way but later changed their mind and took God's way.
The universality of the Kingdom of God is clear. Everyone is invited to take part in the love of God, in His life, in His mission and in the salvation He offers. It is not enough to respond at the first hour, and fill it with promises. God expects us to be coherent in what we say and do. Even when we fall, God offers us second chances. The choices we make each day must always reflect the fundamental option we made at our baptism. There we chose Him to be our God and we, His own. Now, when we act and choose accordingly, we do the will of the Father.
Vocation Challenge:
I promise fidelity to my vocational choice.
What efforts do I make to lessen the gap between my promises and my actions that I may be more coherent to my vocation?
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.