(Audio)
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
and does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
We tend to be less willing than God to allow for the possibility that people can change. Once someone gets canceled in modern society there isn't really a mechanism to rehabilitate his public persona, even if he diligently sought to address whatever offense landed him in that situation. We prefer a more simple world where those who commit injustice are punished immediately and those who do good are rewarded. But the immediacy that we desire foregoes the depth that God seeks. He is less interested in who we are in passing moments than who we choose to become as those moments shape our lives.
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
Our society prefers to see those modern outcasts, who are our tax collectors and prostitutes, punished immediately. We don't often rejoice when we see someone who overcomes such life choices becoming successful. Instead we drag their reputations through the mud until it no longer amuses us to do so, and then forget about them. But to God an initial no does not preclude the possibility of an eventual yes that matters much more. Of course this is actually good news for us, since no one has ever lived a consistent yes throughout his life, save Jesus and the blessed virgin.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
We often fail to recognize why it is such good news that God gives sinners a chance to repent. The reason for this is because we tend to believe that we are righteous and in no need of forgiveness. We believe this because we mistake saying yes for living it. We do communicate this superficial yes through various actions, like going to church, saying the creed, and other superficially religious gestures. We feel like we are 'doing the thing'. But what we busy ourselves about is mostly the appearance of doing the thing. Like the religious leaders in the time of Jesus we have information, and opinions, and a long list of ritual obligations fulfilled. But we haven't been transformed, in the way that the presence of Jesus transformed tax collectors and prostitutes, such that they way they lived together was forever different. Their neighbors were no longer people to exploit, or potential obligations to be avoided, but brothers and sisters. From isolated bastions of ego they came to share a common life and a common purpose as described by Paul in our second reading.
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves
The transformation of people who were obvious offenders is not meant to make us grumble and complain. Rather, it is meant to inspire us to believe that transformation is possible, whatever the starting point. This is truly good news since it means that whatever apparently intractable attitudes and behaviors we have not yet been able to change can be overcome with the help of divine grace. If we are willing to let our minds be changed, to have in us the "same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus", God himself will give us the grace we need.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (see Romans 12:2).
Let's not take this forgiveness for granted. Doing so puts us closer to the category of the religious leaders who do not truly believe they need forgiving. It makes it more likely that we will only put on a facade of repentence rather than truly seeking to change our minds and our hearts. We are not fine and we are not OK. But as long as we are on our way, together with Jesus, we will certainly reach our destination.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
and does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
We tend to be less willing than God to allow for the possibility that people can change. Once someone gets canceled in modern society there isn't really a mechanism to rehabilitate his public persona, even if he diligently sought to address whatever offense landed him in that situation. We prefer a more simple world where those who commit injustice are punished immediately and those who do good are rewarded. But the immediacy that we desire foregoes the depth that God seeks. He is less interested in who we are in passing moments than who we choose to become as those moments shape our lives.
He said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
Our society prefers to see those modern outcasts, who are our tax collectors and prostitutes, punished immediately. We don't often rejoice when we see someone who overcomes such life choices becoming successful. Instead we drag their reputations through the mud until it no longer amuses us to do so, and then forget about them. But to God an initial no does not preclude the possibility of an eventual yes that matters much more. Of course this is actually good news for us, since no one has ever lived a consistent yes throughout his life, save Jesus and the blessed virgin.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
We often fail to recognize why it is such good news that God gives sinners a chance to repent. The reason for this is because we tend to believe that we are righteous and in no need of forgiveness. We believe this because we mistake saying yes for living it. We do communicate this superficial yes through various actions, like going to church, saying the creed, and other superficially religious gestures. We feel like we are 'doing the thing'. But what we busy ourselves about is mostly the appearance of doing the thing. Like the religious leaders in the time of Jesus we have information, and opinions, and a long list of ritual obligations fulfilled. But we haven't been transformed, in the way that the presence of Jesus transformed tax collectors and prostitutes, such that they way they lived together was forever different. Their neighbors were no longer people to exploit, or potential obligations to be avoided, but brothers and sisters. From isolated bastions of ego they came to share a common life and a common purpose as described by Paul in our second reading.
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves
The transformation of people who were obvious offenders is not meant to make us grumble and complain. Rather, it is meant to inspire us to believe that transformation is possible, whatever the starting point. This is truly good news since it means that whatever apparently intractable attitudes and behaviors we have not yet been able to change can be overcome with the help of divine grace. If we are willing to let our minds be changed, to have in us the "same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus", God himself will give us the grace we need.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (see Romans 12:2).
Let's not take this forgiveness for granted. Doing so puts us closer to the category of the religious leaders who do not truly believe they need forgiving. It makes it more likely that we will only put on a facade of repentence rather than truly seeking to change our minds and our hearts. We are not fine and we are not OK. But as long as we are on our way, together with Jesus, we will certainly reach our destination.
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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