Yes And No Brothers

Zephaniah 3:1-2,9-13
Matthew 21:28-32

In today’s gospel, we encounter the story of the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ brothers. The “yes’ brother went to the field with his tool, he thought to to himself; he cannot accomplish the task. This is too tough for me! and decided to turn away the ‘No’brother, though saying yes initially, suddenly remembers how this father gave him life, loved him, and took care of him. He went to field picked up the tool and began to work. He worked with pain and suffering with thorns and wounds on the body and accomplished the task that his father had given. He finished the task. What kept him on his the love his father has for him. That is the bottom line. The love of the Father. The love of God upon us.

The question is how do we response to God’s will? What is the dilemma before us that makes us not to respond to God adequately and sufficiently? In terms of today as regards the scriptures, most times we say I believe in God at Mass and say to everyone we are children of God. We love God’s children. We offer the sign of peace but as soon as we leave the Church, we suddenly drop what we believe. All that we have confessed. We go back to saying No to God.

When we come together into God’s house, Christ feeds us with his word and body so that we become the mystical body of Christ out there. We must do the work. We must go out there to the field to love and serve one another. The time of advent is to say yes just like the Blessed Virgin Mary. let your yes be yes. So take that home with you.

Fr Joseph Osho