Breaking the Word

3^rd Week of Advent, Tuesday – 13^th December 2022 — Gospel:  Mt 21,28-32

Mere Lip Service

In the parable of the two sons, the second son had the answer every parent wants to hear. When his father requested him to go out and work in the vineyard, he gave a quick “yes” as his reply. However, after thinking about it or maybe distracted with pleasurable activity, he did not follow through. His “yes” was meaningless because it was not backed up by his actions. Indeed, it was mere lip service. Lip service is easy. It does not require any action on the part of the person who gives it. He is doing little more than the bare minimum. Committed service is more difficult, because this calls for action. It is not those who say, “Lord, Lord” but those who do what God wants, will gain entry into the kingdom.

3^rd Week of Advent, Monday – 12^th December 2022 — Gospel:  Mt 21,23-27

Hiding behind the Common Answer

In Matthew’s Gospel, there are many different kinds of questions asked of Jesus. John asks if he is in fact the one they have been waiting for (11,2-3), and Pilate asks if he is the king of the Jews (27,1!). The Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, chief priests and elders asked questions to try to trap Jesus; why the disciples break “the traditions of the elders” (15,1-2), for signs or proofs (12,38; 16,1), about divorce (19,2), taxes (22,15-17), resurrection (22,23-28), and by whose authority do you do the things you do (21,23). The disciples asked him questions; who is the greatest among us (18,1), what good deed do we have to do to receive eternal life (19,16), for a sign concerning Jesus’ coming at the end of the age (24,3). These questions are all revealing. With the exception of John and Pilate (ironic), the questions are all self-serving. Those who ask Jesus questions want to trap him, or impress him, or get something from him. And to every pointed question Jesus offers an equally pointed answer, which reveals truth about the Kingdom, the King, and the kingdom’s subjects.

Here in Matthew 21, Jesus responds to the question put to him with a question of his own, and a parable to illustrate it. On the other hand, the answer of the chief priests and elders, that they did not know, is loaded with meaning. While it is true that a person will not know the answer to all questions, and “I do not know” is an accepted and legitimate response because of the fragmentary nature of human knowledge. Yet we must be careful in using “I do not know”. We may use this when the knowledge we have demands a proper response from us but may hide our closed minds under these words. Like the religious leaders, we may not want to say because we are afraid of the consequences that our views will have, on us and on others. We may prefer to let things be as they are rather than rock the boat and topple over ourselves.