Daily Readings - Sun Oct 01 2023
Ezekiel
25"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Philippians
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Matthew
28"What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'29And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.31Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.32For 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 when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between our actions, our faith, and our understanding of God's justice. In Ezekiel, we hear the prophet addressing the Israelites who question God's fairness. Ezekiel makes it clear that God's ways are just, and it is our own actions that determine our fate. He emphasizes that turning away from sin and towards justice leads to life, while stubbornly clinging to wickedness leads to death. This reading underscores the importance of personal responsibility and the opportunity for repentance.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about two sons, one who refuses to work in the vineyard but later repents and goes, and another who agrees to go but does not follow through. Jesus asks which of the two did the will of the father, and the answer is clear: it is the one who, despite initial reluctance, ultimately obeyed. This parable challenges us to examine our own response to God's call. It is not the promises we make but the actions we take that truly matter. Jesus then applies this lesson to the tax collectors and prostitutes who, despite their sinful lives, repented and believed in John the Baptist, while the religious leaders, who should have known better, refused to repent.
The second reading from Philippians bridges these two messages by emphasizing the importance of humility and selflessness. Paul encourages the community to live with one mind and one heart, avoiding contention and vain glory. He calls us to esteem others better than ourselves and to look out for their interests. This is the same mindset that Jesus had, as he humbled himself and became obedient even to death on the cross. Together, these readings remind us that our faith must be lived out in action, marked by humility, repentance, and a commitment to doing God's will. May we strive to be like the first son, who despite his initial reluctance, ultimately chose to obey, and may we embrace the humility and selflessness that Jesus modeled for us.