Dear brothers and sisters, today’s readings remind us that we have the freedom to say “Yes” or “No” to God, but our freedom also makes us responsible for our choices. Sometimes we say “No” to God through our sins, selfishness, or by choosing our own way. Yet God never stops calling us back. He is a merciful Father who gives us the grace to repent and begin again.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. The first son initially says “No” to his father, but later changes his mind and goes to work. The second son says “Yes,” but does not go. Jesus uses this parable to challenge the chief priests and elders who claimed to be faithful to God but rejected Jesus and his message.
The first son represents those who were considered sinners and outcasts. Although they had gone astray, they listened to Jesus, repented, and changed their lives. The second son represents those who appeared religious but failed to do the Father’s will. The message is clear: repentance is essential to our Christian life.
Doing the will of the Father is not simply about saying the right words or performing religious rituals. It means allowing God’s love to change our lives and putting that love into action. Our faith must be visible in the way we forgive, serve, care for others, and show compassion.
The first reading reminds us that each person is responsible for his or her own actions. The people in exile were tempted to blame their situation entirely on the sins of their ancestors. But the prophet Ezekiel tells them that each person must take responsibility for his or her own choices.
We can sometimes do the same thing: when something goes wrong, we are quick to blame someone else. God instead invites us to look honestly at our own lives and ask, “What is God asking me to change?”
Our “Yes” to God is therefore not something we gave only on the day of our Baptism. Our whole Christian life is a continuous “Yes” to God. Every day we are invited to renew that yes through our words, our decisions, and our actions.
Finally, St. Paul gives us the perfect example: Jesus himself. He did not simply say “Yes” to the Father; He lived that yes all the way to the cross. His obedience was expressed through humility, sacrifice, and love.
Brothers and sisters, today let us not be discouraged by the times we have said “No” to God. Instead, let us have the humility to turn back, repent, and say “Yes” through our lives. May our words and actions become one, so that when God calls us to work in His vineyard, we may not only say, “Yes, Lord,” but also go and do His will. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Ez 18:25–28 • Ps 25 • Phil 2:1–11 • Mt 21:28–32