3rd Week of Advent, Tuesday – 14th December 2021 — Gospel: Mt 21,28-32
Second Chance
The parable of the two sons is exclusive to Matthew and is addressed to the religious leaders and public sinners. The first son is a public sinner, who refused his father’s request. When asked to go out and work in the vineyard he answered, “I will not.” Although he said ‘No’ to God, repents, performs the Father’s will and enters the kingdom. While his initial answer was probably displeasing to his father, he ended up doing what his father wanted. Whereas the religious authorities loudly say ‘yes’ to God but never do what he says, and hence they fail to enter. Both religious leaders and public sinners had John as a pointer of the way to Jesus and the kingdom. Yet, of these, while the sinners repented and believed, the religious leaders did not, even after seeing sinners repent. Nevertheless, we can take great comfort in Jesus’ meaning here: God will always give us a second chance. The reality is that we are all sinners. Despite our best intentions, we will sometimes tell God “No.” We do this not only by our actions but sometimes by our failure to act. His mercy is infinite; he will always give us another chance to turn back to him and to do his will.
