Catechism Links[1]
CCC 1807: Just person distinguished by habitual rectitude toward others
CCC 2842: Only Holy Spirit can give us the mind of Christ
CCC 1928-1930, 2425-2426: The obligation of social justice
CCC 446-461: The Lordship of Christ
CCC 2822-2827: “Thy will be done”
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| “Parable of the Two Sons” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN |
Commentary:
Reading I: Ezekiel 18:25-28
Commentary on Ez 18:25-28
The theme of this section of Ezekiel is: “The Lord’s way is just.” In these verses the prophet presents an apologia of the fairness of the Law saying that those who sin against God die, but those who turn from sin and repent live. This argument stresses individual responsibility and the ability of the faithful to choose life or death, fully informed.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Commentary on Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” (God's ways) be made known. The request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice. The theme of guidance is continued in the psalm. This selection gives a clear sense of the Lord’s path, announced by angelic messengers, prophets, and the very Law of Moses. It is the culmination and completion of God’s covenants. These verses are echoed later by Malachi (Malachi 3:1-4) and John the Baptist (Luke 3:1 ff), also announcing the Lord's path.
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Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11
Commentary on Phil 2:1-11
Contained in this selection from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians are two specific instructions to the community. He begins by exhorting them to unity and harmony (see below), and then continues with the Kenotic (emptying) Hymn which focuses on humility. It is believed that the verses of the hymn are a liturgical song in use at the time the letter was penned. Christ empties himself of the complete divinity that is his essence, and accepts the human condition. As true man he suffers the ultimate humiliation of death (on the cross). The second section of the hymn focuses on God’s resulting actions of exaltation. The Christian sings to God’s great glory in Christ, proclaiming him Lord and Savior.
CCC: Phil 2:1 2842; Phil 2:4 2635; Phil 2:5-8 461; Phil 2:5 520, 1694, 2842; Phil 2:6-11 2641, 2667; Phil 2:6 449; Phil 2:7 472, 602, 705, 713, 876, 1224; Phil 2:8-9 908; Phil 2:8 411, 612, 623; Phil 2:9-11 449, 2812; Phil 2:9-10 434; Phil 2:10-11 201; Phil 2:10 633, 635
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OR
Shorter Form: Philippians 2:1-5
Commentary on Phil 2:1-5
St. Paul tells the community in essence: “If you want to console me in Christ, complete my joy by paying attention to the advice I am now going to give you.”[5] He then tells them that what they should strive for is unity with Christ (en Christō) which would bring harmony to the community. He defines the “mind of Christ” in a sense: “…solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy,” then telling them they should be also of that mind but in humility.
CCC: Phil 2:1 2842; Phil 2:4 2635; Phil 2:5-8 461; Phil 2:5 520, 1694, 2842
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Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
Commentary on Mt 21:28-32
This passage is the first of three parables concerning the judgment of the people of Israel. The parable could be taken simply as the difference between saying and doing (see also Matthew 7:21; 12:50). Jesus clarifies his meaning by posing a question to religious leaders using the hypothetical situation of the “two sons.”
The point of his example is intended to be analogous to the difference between those who disbelieved the message of repentance taught by St. John the Baptist and those who believed it, the sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) who have repented. Presented as it is, as a question to the Jewish leaders, the chief priests are forced to admit that (in the story of the two sons) the son who did the father’s will was the one justified (those who accepted the message of St. John the Baptist). Ultimately the example tells the Jewish leaders that those they look down upon (the sinners who had rejected the Law), because of their acts of repentance and devotion, are achieving the inheritance of God before the leaders themselves.
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Homily:
As silly as it seems, I thought I’d tell you a modern parable to illustrate the parable in the Gospel. There is in my circle of friends a couple who have been married for a long time (over 30 years). Recently they told me a story about how the husband, Bob, thought it would be a good idea for them to own a generator for their home. It had been a stormy summer and they had lost power a couple of times risking all the food in their fairly large freezer.
Mary Ann, his wife, was in charge of the budget and told him that $2,000 was just not in their budget and they could get along without it. They went back and forth on this because Bob knew there was a rainy day fund they could borrow from. Mary Ann, on the other hand did not think this was a sufficient reason to tap that fund.
In the end, Bob went out, and without telling Mary Ann, bought a generator anyway. When he got it home, to his surprise and chagrin, he found his argument in favor of the generator had been effective, because Mary Ann had gone out and purchased one as well. They laughed a little and Bob took his back to the store for a refund. They both didn’t laugh when they found that the double purchase had caused them to eat an overdraft fee from the bank.
So, looking at this situation, whose fault was it that they were hit with the overdraft? Bob, who knew that his wife did not support his decision and went ahead with it anyway, or Mary Ann, who told her husband she disagreed and then bought it anyway? The short answer is they were both at fault.
This story is not exactly parallel to the Gospel of the two sons. However the moral is similar. If you say you will do something, do it.
Ezekiel and St. Paul St. Paul
To all of this, as we pull the Word apart, we are saying: “Yes, yes! That is what I must do. Thank you Ezekiel, thank you St. Paul
Then we come to the Parable of the Two Sons from St. Matthew’s Gospel. On the surface we see Ezekiel’s theme brought to life as Jesus uses the parable of the two sons, attempting to explain to the Jewish leaders how they have misunderstood God’s call by rejecting the repentance preached by St. John the Baptist.
We applaud Jesus for taking those hypocrites to task. Then we think about those two sons. We ask ourselves: “Which of them most closely resembles me?” Have I said to my Heavenly Father – Yes, I am here to do what you ask, but then fail? Or have I been brought to obedience through my errors and sins, as so many of those saints who have gone before me?
There lies our trap, our conundrum. If we chose the latter answer and say we have found the right path, that we are walking the “Way,” have we missed the point of the Kenotic Hymn? Have we put on the mind of Christ whose attitude St. Paul
Yet, on the other side, if we admit that we have said “yes” to the Father but not fulfilled our duty to him, do we desperately need to undergo the conversion of heart necessary to put on the mind of Christ? Or are we acting out of the humility we are called to and are therefore on the right path?
Of course the answer is that as hard as we try we shall never be able to completely personify the perfect love and ultimate humility of Christ. He may have emptied himself of pride but that was part of his perfect nature, a nature reflected dimly in us in, a way befitting God’s creation. Our challenge as Christians is to work constantly toward that perfect goal. We do so firstly by never taking personal pride in the good we accomplish. It is Christ’s glory we proclaim not our own. Secondly, we recognize, through acts of contrition, that we have failed to answer our call but God’s mercy is there for those who ask for it.
Pax
In other years on this date: Memorial of Saint Thèrése of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The picture used today is “Parable of the Two Sons” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[5] cf St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians
