Remember your compassion, O Lord

Remember your compassion, O Lord

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Ezk. 18:25-28, Phil. 1:1-11, Mt. 21:28-32. On this Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, the Church invites us to adopt the attitude of waiting on God, ponder over His words and be proactive in the choice we make in life, for every choice comes with its corresponding consequences. In today's first reading, the prophet Ezekiel advocates for a personal responsibility for sins. The Psalm builds on the thought that the Lord is a forgiving God who is generous in forgiving past sins, redirect and guide all who turn to Him for guidance. All we need do is to humbly turn to God and He will show us the Divine way. That is why Paul presents us with some practical suggestions as to what attitude and actions should be paramount in living out our faith in the second reading. He mentions love, participation in the Spirit, compassion, mercy, being of the same mind, thinking of others more than self. 

Jesus, the Son of God, could have remained forever in the presence of His Abba-Father, enjoying His rightful position as part of the Blessed Trinity. Yet, Jesus did not hold onto that prestigious place, but emptied Himself as our role model and teaches us in today's Gospel to always respond positively to the Divine call. Jesus shares the story of the two children of a parent who requests that the offspring participate and help out in the family business. One responds affirmatively to the request, but later changes his mind and did not do what was asked of him. The other responds negatively, but similarly changes his mind and ends up fulfilling the parent’s bidding. Each had a change of heart and did the opposite of what he had originally said he was going to do. Like the two sons in the Gospel, we are called to work in the Vineyard of the Father.  The Vineyard is our house and our life, places where others are reaching out to us, seeking the love of Christ in us. If we long for Jesus and we can find Him. We can find Him within us as Church and within us as individuals. For God to work through us, we have to take on the humility of Christ and be more concerned with those for whom we are called and with ourselves.

May the Lord Jesus Christ who is the one, unique and brightest and most successful model of the path to God, lead us gently through the path of life by the power of His unflinching grace! Amen!! Stay safe and save life, Jesus loves you, happy Sunday!!!

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