Most of us say yes. We are quite certain we say that yes loudly and with confidence. But do we go into the field? Are we like the Pharisees? Is our yes really to a different question? Are we saying, 'Yes, I see myself as a religious person. Yes, I see myself as one who does good things', and yet continuing our lives as before?
The call is meant to change us. It isn't about the stories we tell ourselves. The call isn't something we accept so that we can say that we accepted it and check it off of a list. It is instead a constant invitation. Do we recognize how much we need Jesus? The tax collectors and prostitutes do. Do we let him heal and transform us in each and every struggle with sin in our lives? We should see the fruits of the Spirit manifest in us. We should find ourselves actually about the Father's work in the vineyard. We don't earn anything thereby. But it does reveal over time that we are actually accepting the invitation of Jesus and letting it transform us.
We are to do "nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory" as Paul says. The secret is to be of one mind with him. Instead of thinking about ourselves we focus on "encouragement in Christ", "solace in love", "participation in the Spirit" and "compassion and mercy". Our own pride and self-indulgence ultimately pale in comparison to the blessings of the kingdom. We must have kingdom priorities. To do that we must apply our minds with kingdom focus. We must actively concentrate on these kingdom blessings. We need to follow the advice of Paul who reminds us:
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (cf. Phi. 4:8).
When the good, the true, and the beautiful motivate us we become unstoppable. When these are our motivations we turn to God who is the source of them for our strength. This motivation has the power to unite the people of God whereas our selfishness and vainglory leads to dissension and factions.
God is rich in mercy. His compassion and love are from old. He is more than willing to forgive and forget all the times when we say yes just in order to imagine ourselves as people who say yes. The invitation to join him in the field remains open. The encouragement, solace, compassion and mercy are always offered in abundance. He stands waiting to pour out more of his Spirit upon us. Are we not yet in the field? Selfishness won't get us out there. But the motivation, indeed the grace, to work in the field is what we are offered this morning.
Let us receive it. It is not too late to turn from the wickedness of our past to do what is just and right. It isn't just that God is fair. It isn't just that he only holds us accountable for this. He preserves our life when we do what is right and just, as the first reading says. But he himself gives us the grace to do this where we otherwise surely fail.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
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