WHO, THEN IS A CHRISTIAN?
Being a Christian is not a matter of good disposition or intention to do good. It is not about answering the name Christian. Neither, it is about going to church, belonging to a pious society or organisation or even to the priestly or religious bodies. It is not an identification of wearing societal or organisational memberships or uniforms.
As well, it is not with a priestly collar or religious habit. Of course, the hood does not make a monk as the saying goes. Equally, being a Christian is not having theological, pastoral or biblical knowledge of God and the Church. Who, then is a Christian?
BEING A CHRISTIAN
To be a Christian implies living out in concrete actions the profession or confession of faith. It is in leading an exemplary life. It is to popular datum, “action speaks louder than the word”. Here, there is a clue from Jesus’ life of teaching, preaching and lifestyle.
Where his love words for us are translated concretely into lived action of love on the cross. This is fleshed out in the parable of the two sons, neither of whom does what he says he will do. Doing good actions is better than speaking fine words.
OUR THEMES OF THE READINGS
The readings of this Sunday present us with an invitation to true Christian life in God. That is, taking advantage of God’s mercy and turning around our lives from wicked paths. We are also confronted with the incomprehensible way of God´s mercy and generosity of grace to the repented sinner. Ezekiel 18:25-28
At the same time, they call us to the imitation of Christ´s perfect humility. The pathway to Christian giving in God and with others. Philippians 2:1-11
They also challenge or warn us to be careful in our Christian living. Christianity is not by name or in beautiful expressions of words and intentions. It is living out the Word or Will of God. Matthew 21:28-32
FIRST READING: EZEKIEL 18:25-28
The eternal truth is that God deals justly with us. He always forgives the sinner who repents and rewards those who persevere in good deeds away from our thoughts and ways like the heavens from the earth. Today, through Prophet Ezekiel, God straightens up the record of his injustice in forgiving the sinner who repents. And his justice with the righteous person who deviates from the right path to sin.
The first reading today, from the Prophet Ezekiel 18:25-28, is so clear: God loves us and never wants to judge or condemn us. It is we who create problems but God is always ready to forgive. The image of a castigating punishing or policing God is an incredibly wrong image of God.
The eternal truth is that God deals justly with us. He always forgives the sinner who repents and rewards those who persevere in good deeds.
Jesus was straightforward, or in modern language confrontational when he spoke the truth to religious leaders. He did not miss words to tell them the bitter truth about external religiosity with no internal or inner transformation.
SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11
In St. Paul´s hymn of Christ humility, of selfless giving or emptying to death through the cross. He calls and challenges us to the imitation of Christ as the perfect example or model for Christian humility. This is because it is a humble Christian who admits to God´s will and purpose. It takes humility to be self-effacing. It is through humility that one can admit to one´s faults. The repentance of a Christian depends on his or her humility to ask forgiveness from God or others. It also takes humility for a Christian to be flexible and docile to God´s will or word.
The second reading today is from the Letter to the Philippians 2:1-11 and is one of the most profound of passages in all of Scripture. St. Paul invites us to “humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his interests, but also those of others.” He later presents us the image and example of a Self-effacing God: in the person Jesus Christ who thought equal in divinity with God but self-emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave even to the point of dying. Something very different from the Christian God to other gods.
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 21:28-32
The Gospel of Matthew 21:28-32 today is very short and to the point: Jesus gives us two examples: the one son who says that he will not work but in the end does work. The other son says he will work but in the end, does not. : do we truly seek to do God’s will in our lives? The lesson here is no matter how many times we have said “no” to God, we still can change and seek God’s will and God forgives us our faults.
TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL
1. It is a parable with a prophecy of indictment against religious hypocrisy and lips or eyes services to God.
2. In the parable, there are two sons of a vine owner. One who was not afraid to say no or to disobey his father. Then, on a second thought have a change of heart or mind. That is repent to do the Father´s will.
3. While the second son was afraid to say no or disobey publicly. He pays lips or eyes service to obedience. He gladly said yes but his action did not follow his word.
4. The meaning of this parable is crystal clear. The Jewish leaders are the people who said they would obey God and then did not.
5. The people-pleaser who does not know how to say no but is wordy agrees to everything with no commitment. There are many it is ok pastors and Christians who cannot speak their minds.
6. They are those people whose profession of faith is much better than their practice of Christian life.
7. The parable presents two kinds of people or Christian attitudes to God´s will. The one who disagrees to agree out of a change of heart and conviction. Those whose faith practice is far better than their profession.
8. The second class of Christians whose life is nothing but the lips or eyes service with only beautiful words and no action.
9. Jesus like John the Baptist is calling the religious leaders to repentance but they are adamant to God´s mercy and grace. While sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes are heading to this calling.
10. In other words, many sinful people like tax collectors and prostitutes are open to the message of John the Baptist, of Jesus Christ and the gospel to change their lives for good. While those whom one will expect because of their knowledge of the law and scripture will recognise and respect the prophets of God like John and Jesus. The religious leaders would not listen to the message of God or turn away from the sins.
11. The main focus of this gospel is the call to repentance, mercy and grace with a humble heart or mind. True Christians live in constant repentance and flexibility to the grace and will of God. They are humble in heart and spirit to be self-effacing. As well as admit to faults and ask for forgiveness from God and others.
A true Christian life is practically seen in the conscious-minded Christian who struggles to do the will of God but has a flexible or docile will to do the will of God. Even when there are some hesitations in the beginning to respond freely or willingly. First, there are people whose profession is much better than their practice.
THE BEAUTY OF GOD
The readings of today present us with a very big spiritual challenge to our images of God. Any image of God which includes any attitude toward us that is not completely love, is simply a wrong image of God. Hence, we must rethink our images of God.
Our God is a God of Change: positive change. Our God is a God of faithful history, loving remembrance and constant change for good. A God with whom repentance moments are countless. He is no good with counting scores or records of wrongdoings but He has relentless patience in waiting for life-changing moments of all: sinners and saints alike.
OUR PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Lord, you are an unchanging God yet you adapt to our changing and wavering conditions as humans. Help us not to offer you empty loving thoughts, lips services or eye services to the praise and glory of men, but to authentically avail ourselves to the docility and prompting of your Spirit alive in us and our many reluctant decisions. Amen
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