Responding to the Father's Call

 

Matthew 21: 28-32 

 The Parable of the Two Sons

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.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² 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.

Today we begin a new month, October. Summer is behind us, the days and nights are cooler, the hours of daylight, shorter, the leaves turning, the harvest is in and we bunker down for the challenges of winter. October 1 is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding us that Advent is not far away, but it is also the Memorial of St. Therese of Lisieux, the young Carmelite nun whose "Little Way" makes holiness accessible to all of us.  Unlike the first son, she accepted God's command right away to work in the vineyard, albeit the Carmelite Convent in Lisieux;  and she was certainly unlike the second son who at first said yes but did not go.  Each one of us has a job to do in the vineyard of the Lord. How are we carrying out our tasks, living out our calling? As we relish the colors of Autumn, we might relish the graces we have been given by our generous God and take a good look at how we have been using them, or ignoring them. Can we make this a bright colorful season in our spiritual lives? As the leaves change, so can we. St. Therese, pray for us.

Bro. Rene

Dear God, even the glorious colors of Autumn along with your teachings and the example of saints such as St. Therese, encourage us to change our behaviors to be willing and faithful workers in your vineyard. Help us to say YES and follow through with our ACTIONS. Amen