Hello, and happy Sunday. Yes,, we are still in Ordinary Time and will be until the 29th of November when we will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent.

Today we hear yet another story, that Jesus uses to get His point across. Remember, stories are much easier to remember than facts and figures. And so Jesus uses this means to speak to the religious leaders and answer their question as to by what authority does Jesus do what He does. Jesus sets the “trap” and they fall into it head long.

This story is, as it is told, is about a father who has two sons. He asks one to go into the vineyard to work, and the son say ,”yes, father, “ but never went. The father goes to the other son and ask him the same, to which the son says “no”, but later changes his mind and goes into the vineyard to work. The question Jesus asks the religious leaders, “Which of the sons did as the father asked.?” They all answers the second one. But Jesus goes on to say “then when John came preaching a baptism of repentance, why did they not believe?

Those who you look upon as “public” sinners are entering the Kingdom of God before you because they believed in what John preached. But you did not change your minds and believe.”

 The Lutheran pastor Micah Krey wrote, “ The two children make a challenge clear: an earlier refusal can be changed and a statement of commitment still needs to become action.”
One day, maybe many years ago, someone said YES in our name at our baptism. They said YES to put into practice what the Lord calls us to do. Now that we are older, which son do we follow? Are we the one who say yes and does not do what the Father has asked? Or are we like the son who may have, at first said no, but later on when into the vineyard and did what the Father has asked?

As someone once said, “Ah, good question!!”

Peace and All Good,Fr. Vinnie, osf

and theBros and Srs of the Franciscan House of Prayer.