Ez. 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-9; Phil. 2:1-11; Mt. 21:28-32
Today the Lord is responding to those who say “The LORD’s way is not fair!”. What is the response? Be obedient, do it anyway! There used to be a television sitcom where the theme was “Father knows best”. This is what we heard when we were growing up and what we still say to our children. As parents we see beyond what they see and so it is with God. We see the finite and God sees the infinite. “Just do it” is the tag line for Nike commercial and the message is don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. This is just half of the story the rest comes later. Jesus also challenges us to do what He commands out of obedience. Don’t like it? It is what it is.
This is a theme carried forth from last week when all the labor workers received the same daily wage regardless of the hours they worked. Not only did they receive the same wage but Jesus responded “The last shall be first.” “Not fair” we say but who among us has the mind of God to judge his ways or his will. Today the Lord says, “do it anyway”, be obedient to me. What you do not understand now has a purpose, follow my ways and you shall live forever by my side. When others saw Jesus on the cross, they did not understand what now we get to see and live because of his sacrifice.
What we see in the gospel is two sons with two attitudes. One is aggressive and says “I will not” because he does not like what he is asked to do. The father was not asking him to do anything bad, illegal, or immoral. He needed him to do some work. His conscience moves him to do what is right. The other son goes along with the father but then ignores doing the work. Which did the father’s will? The one who is obedient matters more to God even in our faults that the one who gives lip service “yes, Lord”, then follows his own will. Jesus reminds us heaven depends on our actions.
As children we learn early that our parents are “the boss of me” and when someone else tells us to do some like a big brother or sister we like to say, “you’re not the boss of me”. We are very good at avoiding authority and careful who we listen to.
No one said it would be easy. Obedience is difficult. From the 2-year-old that says “no” when we say eat your vegetables to the teen who is a master of avoidance as we hear mothers say, “how many times do I have to remind you?” We don’t like it. Then there is the “grown-up” complaining “why do we have to change, this is how we have ‘always’ done it”. Then we finally get to be old and wise and someone says, “it is not safe for you to drive anymore”, so we make an extra pair of keys so we can keep driving.
The world is demanding we listen and obey the norms of a culture described as a culture of death by Pope John Paul II. Why are we so ready to follow the secular culture that to be obedient to the Word of God? One reason is we want to be accepted by our peers. The other reason is the wide-open ocean of comfort, pleasure, do what you will. Be you’re your own boss. Remember the song from the 70’s “Don’t rock the boat, baby, don’t tip the boat over” (Hues)? Jesus will tip the boat over to save a few rather than all perish.
Jesus is the example par excellence of obedience “he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death” and what did God the Father do? “God greatly exalted him” that we may all proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. God’s will, is our salvation. Let us love ourselves by doing his will. This is the day to say “yes, Lord”, do it for the love of God, for the love of others, and even for the wisdom of self-love. Eternity depends on it.
The gospel message reminds us that we are called to obedience even when our own will rebels in our humanity, even when we have refused in the past, even when we think God is not interested in our actions. God knows our faults but is waiting for our obedience with his gift of mercy. If we only give the illusion of being obedient externally for all to see we fool only ourselves before God.
“I don’t like to go to church”, do it anyway. “I don’t like to do homework”, do it anyway. “I don’t like my job”, keep doing it anyway until you find another job. Whatever we are called by God in his service be obedient. Do it unless it is illegal, immoral, or just a bad thing to do.
Our goal of life is to reach salvation by following the “paths” laid out for us by Jesus who desires us to come to “truth”. The first right step in this journey is to come to him in humility with an open mind and humble heart to be fed from the table of salvation. This table is God’s offering through the sacramental life of the church. It is to be church where we become “of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing” that we may empty ourselves out for him by our love of God and charity to neighbor.
Now for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say on radio. The inspiration for “Just do it” came from a death row inmate as he was about to be executed. His last words were “let’s do it”. With Jesus we are never alone. He is with us, through us, and in us so that what we do in his name we do with Him. When Jesus says “do it” in obedience to me and we realize what we need to do is what is right, what is best, we can say with confidence to God, “let’s do it, Lord”.
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