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

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Sunday, 26^th 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 2^ND SON ++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Pharisees are examples of 2^nd 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 1^at son in parable

Ø  1^st 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 1^st 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 1^st son AND a willingness to change in the 2^nd 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

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++