Two sons
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The Gospel continues to focus on the person and role of John the Baptist, sent to prepare the way of the Messiah. The parable of the Two Sons describes two kinds of responses to the will of God as manifested in the ministry of John the Baptist and of Jesus. “Yes” in the immediate context means to “accept” John the Baptist and the “way of righteousness” that he preaches. This is more than “yes” to the “right path,” which is the following of the Law (Prv 8:20). This is a “yes” to the will of God who chooses to reveal the mysteries of his Kingdom to the “little ones”—those considered unworthy of it, including tax collectors and prostitutes.
Before the coming of John, the Pharisees, the chief priests, and the elders of the people had said “yes” to God by formally accepting his Law. But they negated that “yes” when they rejected John the Baptist who invited people to repentance and to receive baptism. They did not believe that the baptism of John was from heaven, yet were afraid to say it was of human origin because they feared the people who regarded John as a prophet (Mt 21:25-26).
On the other hand, there were those who felt they were excluded from Israel because they were considered sinners. The publicans and prostitutes would never claim that they said “yes” to God. In a parable, Jesus describes a publican standing at a distance from the sanctuary, not raising his eyes to heaven because he admits that he is a sinner (Lk 18:13-14). But in the eyes of God, those who accept their need for forgiveness and respond to the message of the Baptist and Jesus are the obedient disciples. They say “yes” to work in the vineyard although they never boast about it.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.