Dear Brothers and Sisters,

How obedient were you as a child? Were there occasions when you said “yes” to a request from your mum and dad and then ignored it? And what about as an adult? Do you ever say one thing for a quiet life and then do something else? I guess that if we are honest with ourselves at some point we have all been either of the two sons in this Sunday’s gospel.

When I was in the seminary in Rome, I was there for the canonisation of St John Henry Newman. It was on a Sunday morning and it was decided that there would be no Mass in the College to give us all an opportunity to go to St Peter’s Square. For some reason I was not enthusiastic about going as I knew that it would be very hot and crowded and I decided to go to Mass more locally without telling anyone. Was it a decision based on logic or was I succumbing to a temptation? However as the time for the canonisation drew near, I felt an impulse to go to St Peter’s and with God’s help I made it on time. Yes, it was hot and very crowded but I was glad I was there. With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the help of my guardian angel (whose feast we mark later in the week), I went from duplicity, and what would have been dishonesty, to at least having a measure of integrity.

Do you have your own story? How did it end? Good outcome or bad? Light or dark?

This Sunday’s gospel shows one of three parables that Jesus puts together to drive home to His listeners, the religious establishment, the need for belief in Him and His kerygma (or proclamation) of the kingdom. During this sequence in the gospel Jesus declares to the authorities that they are subject to divine disfavour, something that it must have been difficult to hear let alone own in their hearts. Worse than that, the lowest of the low – tax collectors (Roman collaborators, embezzlers and little more than criminals) and prostitutes – were closer to the kingdom than them. Can you imagine that happening here and that being said directly to you? What would your response be? The same outrage as that of the Jewish elders perhaps?

What is the point that Jesus wants to make in this Sunday's parable? What is the change He is seeking? As with many of Jesus’ parables it is capable of more than one interpretation. One interpretation is that the father in Sunday's parable is God; the first son represents the tax collectors and the prostitutes, who despite their failings come to obey God, initially through the ministry of John the Baptist. The second son represents the chief priests and the elders who, despite their religious profession and their important position disobeyed God by not believing first in John’s ministry and then in Jesus’ teaching. And more than that, Jesus characterises His opponents as hypocrites; worse still for His listeners He tells them that rather being at the front of the heavenly queue for salvation they are, at best, firmly at the back.

What are we to make of this? What does it mean for us? Well, merely coming to church, just showing up, is not enough. Do we take time to seriously consider the implications of Jesus’ teaching for our own lives? Week after week, do we just listen to the familiar stories but see them as somehow only having a fleeting meaning for our own lives? John, and then Jesus, still call us to move from a mere reception of words to "metanoia", a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transformation of outlook of our vision of the world and of ourselves, loving God and others. This is big stuff, frightening stuff, overwhelming. Yes it is, certainly on our own, but we are not alone, through the grace and power of the word of God and the sacraments, Jesus Himself is always with us.

Where and how can we start this change in our lives? Perhaps begin each day with a simple commitment to God, a few words will do; perhaps in the day do a simple act of kindness; perhaps at the end of the day a look back calling into minds, hearts and souls the actions of God which, I promise you, you will find.

Do not lose hope or trust, Jesus understands our frailty but also our desire to be like Him, and our commitment to this. If we do our best to love Jesus He will come to us, we have His word for it; He always keeps his promises. 

As always, please accept an assurance of my daily prayers for your needs and intentions.

God bless and keep you.

Fr Chris