Tuesday, October 03, 2017

HOMILY for October 1, 2017: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A


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Sunday, 26th Week OT, A
Deacon Candidates and Wives’ Retreat
October 1, 2017
2 sons: which are you? +++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  2 sons: 1 says “yes” and doesn’t go; the other says “no” and does
Ø  Which one did the father’s will?
Ø  If you had to be one which would you choose?
Ø  It’s a trick questions Jesus uses to teach the Pharisees about the Kingdom of God
PHARISEES AS THE 2ND SON ++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  Pharisees are examples of 2nd son in the story
Ø  Self-righteous Jews who always gave the appearance of serving God by following all the rules; what to eat, wear, how to say their prayers
Ø  They looked and sounded religious, but when it came to loving neighbor, showing kindness to poor, compassion to lowly, never “showed up in the vineyard!”
Ø  Oh, said they would; religion very impressive in the synagogue, but did not live it out in daily lives
APPLICATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  But many, myself included, R 1at son in parable
Ø  1st son stood for the tax collectors and the prostitutes of whom Jesus spoke, folks who lived with sin
Ø  Didn’t have time 4 religion, & even if they did, they were short on worship
Ø  What they did have was the ability to change
Ø  Jesus loved their zest 4 life and was able to call them from sinful ways to follow him
Ø  I figure as the 1st son, (1) I don’t live a perfect life and (2) I do want to change
Ø  Those 2 qualities give me hope
Conclusion ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø  It’s important to say that the father doesn’t disown either one of them, because of the things that they did, or didn’t do
Ø  Actually, neither one did the F’s will, however, according to Jesus, both sons can experience the Kingdom of God
Ø  Authentic religious practice in the case of the 1st son AND a willingness to change in the 2nd son saves both individuals
Ø  The good news is that God wants 2 nurture, mold, & change each of them, wherever they’re coming from into examples of righteous living in vineyard
Ø  Yes, there’s good news for all of us
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



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