Tuesday, December 15, 2009: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32
Posted by Rev. Bekeh Utietiang on December 16, 2009 · Leave a Comment
In today’s gospel, none of the two sons are an ideal son. The first says “no” to the father and then turns around to carry out the father’s instructions and the second says yes and then does not carry out the father’s instruction. These two represent different sets of people. In the story, the first son represents the tax collectors and sinners who turned away from God’s invitation, yet they ended up accepting John’s baptism of repentance; the second son represents the Jews who claim that they follow the will of God and yet do not live according to God’s principles. Jesus Christ invites us not only to be obedient to the word of God but also to act on it. We cannot say “yes” to God with our lips and then turn around to do something else. Our Christian life is a call from God to be witnesses. We must respond to this call through our actions in the world.