In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus tells a fairly straightforward parable about a man with two sons. The man ordered both sons to work in the vineyard. The first son said, “I will not,” but afterwards changed his mind and went to work. The second son said, “Sure, Pop, whatever you say,” but never went into the vineyard to work.
Jesus asked, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” The answer was obvious: the first son. Jesus’ message also was obvious: you have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
Jesus asked, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” The answer was obvious: the first son. Jesus’ message also was obvious: you have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
But there is a lot more to this lesson than simply that. Jesus addressed this parable to “the chief priests and elders of the people.” These were the religious leaders, the men who were wealthy and powerful, and who could ruin the lives of anyone who displeased them. In other words, they had a lot in common with most religious leaders down through the centuries.
After telling the simple parable, Jesus looked these guys straight in the eye and said, “I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”
Whoa, that was an incredibly shocking and outrageous statement to make. It’s no wonder the chief priests and elders were determined to kill Jesus. In their pompous self-righteousness, they were extremely offended by Jesus’ statement. And they were too blinded by their power and prestige to realize that Jesus’ words were right on the money.
It would be like some common peasant telling King Henry the Eighth, “Hey, Chubby, why don’t you settle down with one woman for a change and stop being such a jerk?” Safe to say that particular peasant’s life expectancy would have been drastically reduced at that moment (down to exactly…one moment).
After telling the simple parable, Jesus looked these guys straight in the eye and said, “I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”
Whoa, that was an incredibly shocking and outrageous statement to make. It’s no wonder the chief priests and elders were determined to kill Jesus. In their pompous self-righteousness, they were extremely offended by Jesus’ statement. And they were too blinded by their power and prestige to realize that Jesus’ words were right on the money.
It would be like some common peasant telling King Henry the Eighth, “Hey, Chubby, why don’t you settle down with one woman for a change and stop being such a jerk?” Safe to say that particular peasant’s life expectancy would have been drastically reduced at that moment (down to exactly…one moment).
If there’s one thing pompous and powerful hypocrites hate, it’s when someone tells them the truth about their hypocrisy.
Jesus’ parable does not apply only to powerful rulers, like chief priests and elders, cardinals and popes, and King Henry the Eighth. Everyday, middle-class folks can also become hypocritical and self-righteous. We must honestly ask ourselves whether we are doing the will of our Father in Heaven. But first we have to figure out what that will is. In John’s gospel, Jesus gave us what He called a “new command.”
Did He say, “A new command I give you: go to church every Sunday”? Did He say, “A new command I give you: put a lot of money in the collection basket”? Did He say, “A new command I give you: get a haircut and stop wearing that silly nose ring”?
Nope, He didn’t say any of those things. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
How well are we doing this?
I’m reminded of an old story about the local drunk in a small town. For many years he wanted to go to church, but never felt that he was good enough. All the church-goers looked down their noses at him, and for over 20 years not a single person ever made him feel welcome.
Often the people considered unacceptable by society are the very ones who respond to the Gospel message most fully. After all, the first and foremost concept of the Gospel is that we are all sinners in desperate need of a savior. Drunks and prostitutes and the like know all too well that they are sinners.
Jesus’ parable does not apply only to powerful rulers, like chief priests and elders, cardinals and popes, and King Henry the Eighth. Everyday, middle-class folks can also become hypocritical and self-righteous. We must honestly ask ourselves whether we are doing the will of our Father in Heaven. But first we have to figure out what that will is. In John’s gospel, Jesus gave us what He called a “new command.”
Did He say, “A new command I give you: go to church every Sunday”? Did He say, “A new command I give you: put a lot of money in the collection basket”? Did He say, “A new command I give you: get a haircut and stop wearing that silly nose ring”?
Nope, He didn’t say any of those things. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
How well are we doing this?
I’m reminded of an old story about the local drunk in a small town. For many years he wanted to go to church, but never felt that he was good enough. All the church-goers looked down their noses at him, and for over 20 years not a single person ever made him feel welcome.
Often the people considered unacceptable by society are the very ones who respond to the Gospel message most fully. After all, the first and foremost concept of the Gospel is that we are all sinners in desperate need of a savior. Drunks and prostitutes and the like know all too well that they are sinners.
If we are comfortably middle-class and respectable — and as a result proud of how wonderful we are — we can easily lose sight of our sinfulness. At that point it becomes nearly impossible to embrace two other important Gospel concepts: repentance and humility.
When we get to Heaven, we’re going to be very surprised by who is there: tax collectors, prostitutes, drunks, and people with nose rings.
And we’re going to be very, VERY surprised by who is not there: pompous chief priests and elders, arrogant cardinals and popes, sourpuss grouches with perfect church attendance, and cold-hearted hypocrites who said to God, “Sure, Pop, whatever you say,” but then never did their heavenly Father’s will.
When we get to Heaven, we’re going to be very surprised by who is there: tax collectors, prostitutes, drunks, and people with nose rings.
And we’re going to be very, VERY surprised by who is not there: pompous chief priests and elders, arrogant cardinals and popes, sourpuss grouches with perfect church attendance, and cold-hearted hypocrites who said to God, “Sure, Pop, whatever you say,” but then never did their heavenly Father’s will.
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