A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?”

This message begins with a father asking both of his sons for help. I think that we all can identify with both sons, in a way, but the first son, for me is the one who’s actions I can most understand. Most scholars say that two sons directly refer to the two groups he is addressing at the end of this passage. The first son is like the tax collectors and prostitutes that sinned for a time, with their words they rejected god, but eventually saw the truth, recognized the word made flesh in jesus, and with their actions turned from their wicked ways, and changed their lives to follow Him. The second son is like the Pharisees and Scribes.  They said yes to god in all of their words, and public prayer, but with their actions they rejected god, they did not see Jesus as the physical manifestation of all of their prophesy, standing right before them, and instead sought to kill him.

This is why the second son is harder to understand, it seems utterly wicked to me, to say yes and then do the opposite. There is almost some malice of forethought in his response. But I am not sure it is that outwardly evil. I think that many of us have an idea of what is right and wrong. We become comfortable in that position. We say “I am a good person,” and we end up filtering out all evidence to the contrary. While it is indeed wicked to say one thing and do another, there is some sympathy for these people. It is the sin of pride, the devils favorite of all temptations, that leads people to rationalize their thoughts with their actions. We must do our best to reject this pride, and seek the humility of the tax collector and prostitutes, and that is why we must not immediately write off others that do the same, we must sympathize

But why do I have sympathy for this wickedness, because Jesus did! He said “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” Jesus did not say tax collectors and prostitutes are entering heaven and you are not, he said “before” you. And he is saying that to all of us too. This is a call to conversion! This is Jesus saying that you need to align your actions with your words, and to seek the truth over your personal view of right and wrong. If you don’t then your journey to heaven will be long and painful.

This is a really convicting…, because we have all been there. We have all said one ting and done the other. So, we must learn to seek to do what is His will over our own will, and to speak the truth, as opposed to our slanted version of it. And maybe just maybe, when we die, we will get to be with God in the beatific vision. I yearn for that myself, and I wish it for you as well.

Oh Lord, please help me to hear your call, and to respond immediately. Amen.