Daily Readings - Sun Oct 01 2023
Ezekiel
25"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?26If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die.27But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.28Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die.
Philippians
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Matthew
28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'29"'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?The first," they answered.32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent 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.