A Cycle – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time 26
Mt. 21:28-32
John in his first letter tells us, “. all unrighteousness is sin” (1 Jn.5:17). Yet, we have become comfortable with our weaknesses and tendency to sin. Particularly since we believe our sins are minor sins. We avoid those big sins like murder, adultery, rape, high value theft, sexual immorality, malice. We know them as deadly sins. While those little sins are viewed as minor obstacles keeping us from being moly as the Lord God is holy. While at the same time we ignore the words of Christ empathizing the greatest commandment of “loving God and neighbor” fulfills all the laws. We ignore the fact those small sins are unloving and destroys our relationships with others and with God.
Today’s gospel presents us with a simple challenge – define what we call sin. It is not a hard challenge, but it does challenge us to examine ourselves. It is not the first time Jesus challenges our concept of sin. The parable of the prodigal son is another parable where our concept of what God desires is obedience instead of a contrite heart. The prodigal is doing exactly what Ezekiel says is necessary to receive forgiveness. The strange thing is everyone agrees the second son in today’s gospel did not do the fathers will. While the forgiveness of the prodigal son is viewed as unfair to the obedient older son. God does not want obedience; He wants your heart.
In today’s gospel we have a brother who told his father he would go into the vineyard but does not. His brother agreed to go but never intended to go. But later he changed his mind and went into the vineyard. Sin a way of nagging at us and moving us toward repentance. I am willing to bet, disobeying parents is most likely a common sin all children confess. I am also willing to bet that not every teenager has deliberately stayed out later than their parents’ curfew. Our human nature is weak, self-centered and motivates us to minimize disobedience. God included the honoring of mother and father in the ten commandments for a reason.
Let us stop trying to classify sin into deadly and not so deadly because all sin separates us from God. The scriptures tell us there is sin that is deadly (1 Jn. 5:7) but it also says “those born of God do not sin” (1 Jn.5:18). Like the son in today’s gospel the Spirit convicts of sin. Being born again is not a free pass but it provides us a different perspective. We understand our call to be holy. That is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless you are born of the spirit and water you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” (Jn. 3:5). That Spirit that is within us will always convict us of sin. It is a nagging, unsettling feeling deep within us prompting us to stop, reflect and seek to be reconciled with God.
Did the Pharisees sin by their conforming to the strict letter f the law while ignoring the spirit of the law? Jesus called them hypocrites and whitewashed tombs. He did not correct the disciples when they ate gran without purifying themselves as the law required. He violated the law by healing on the sabbath. All Jesus said and did reveals how easily we are deceived by depending on the law. He is also showing us God always forgives anyone who repents and seeks His embrace. We need to admit all sin puts a barrier between ourselves and God. It is a barrier we erect, and one God wants to remove if only we seek His embrace.
You should read the fifteenth chapter of Matthews gospel where Jesus talks about tradition and the law. In this chapter the Pharisees confront Jesus because He did nothing when His disciples ate grain without washing their hands. Jesus responds by telling them it is what comes out of our hearts that make us unclean. He continues by Elling us what comes out to our hearts is “. evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, envy, false witness, slander, and folly.” We would classify some of those sins as deadly. But others would dismiss as just humans being humans. But when Jesus tells us folly is a sin that needs to be addressed, we should realize we cannot ignore any sin Folly is not something we would ever consider as a sin that separates us from God. But it does and we know it when we regret something we did or failed to do.
How can we change our human nature? We cannot and that is why we need to admit we need to stop trying to measure our holiness by what the law demands. Instead, we need to begin a journey of surrendering ourselves to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. It is not what we do but embracing what Jesus has done.
