We are in the Gospel of Matthew today and we hear once again a parable from Jesus, and for the next few weeks we will hear Christ offer more parables to “teach with a twist” as He imparts to us a greater meaning issued by way of a simple story. In this parable, a father who has two sons—and for those old enough to remember, I don’t mean Fred MacMurray—asks both his sons to go into the vineyard and work. The first son says no but eventually does what his father asks of him. The second son responds with a yes but never does as he is asked by his father. The Lord then asks, “Who did his father’s will?”

At this time in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus has already entered into Jerusalem and has cleansed the Temple, and has now pitted Himself in opposition to the powers-that-be of the religious leadership who are unwilling to follow Jesus. Yet outsiders—gentiles, sinners, tax collectors and the like—are coming to Jesus and to the Father responding more favorably than the leaders of the Temple. The parable told in today’s gospel drives this point home to the religious leaders of the day: outsiders are more inclined to do the Father’s Will than those who most would consider faithfully religious people. Just last Tuesday we heard in the Gospel of Luke (8: 19-21) “The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you." He said to them in reply, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

May we hear in today’s gospel parable the notion that we are all called to follow the Will of God in our daily activities of life and those who do—even if not at first or only after much hesitation—are still sought by and welcomed by the Father. No one is lost by God. In last Sunday’s gospel we heard of more vineyard workers and the magnificent generosity of our God, that even those who come late to the vineyard are still equally valued by the Father—for love is much more than an emotion, rather it is also just, fair and all encompassing. How do we fulfill the Father’s Will in-and-through our daily activities of life? The Lord asks us to be like the first son in today’s parable, the one who says “no first to the father’s request to work in the vineyard but eventually carries out his father’s will.” We are called to listen to the Lord speak to us in the midst of Sacred Scripture as we hear at Mass, to delve deeply into what God is saying to us—to come to understand the meaning of God’s Word and to come to know how He wishes us to apply to our modern world, and then through nourishment—the Sacrament of the Eucharist—and through life lived within the community of believers—the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church—we come
to “hear the word of God and act on it.”

As parents we are called to live the faith and pass it on in our families; as adults in the world we are called to act to build-up the common good and not simply seek selfish outcomes; as young adults we should employ our enthusiasm to be the motivating factor in doing righteous (Godly) things in this world such as caring for the vulnerable, feeding the hungry, seeking justice where none is present. None of this can be accomplished by ourselves, without listening to God, and
without having silent conversation (prayer) with Him.

How can I do this on my own? I’m busy with work, family and everything in-between! As I have said before, God does not expect us to do everything but He does expect everyone to do something. Where to begin? The Church—locally at the parish and broader through the Archdiocese—are great places that offer numerous opportunities to come to know the Father and to do His Will.