Weekly Bulletin Information

Read Father Fye's initial email: At Home... Now What?
Form your mind and soul well: Discipleship at Home

September 27, 2020 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last week, Father Fye included in his homily a beautiful story about a man who, at the verge of his death, was ready and waiting for Father Fye's visit, writing on his notepad, "how can I be forgiven?" In this week's gospel, we hear about the tax collectors and prostitutes (grave sinners, according to the norms of the time) who hear the good news from John the Baptist and are ready and willing to change their lives as a result. On the other hand, the pious religious leaders Jesus is addressing have hardened their hearts against the Holy Spirit, who spoke through John. While they may talk a good talk, they are certainly not walking a good walk. As a result, Jesus tells these hypocritical Pharisees that the grave sinners will be entering the kingdom of God before they do.

The first son in Jesus's story is like these tax collectors and prostitutes who have been living a sinful life, but begin to do what is good after hearing John's exhortation. In the original Greek, the first son literally says the equivalent of "I don't want to" when his father asks him to tend the vineyard, but then goes and does it anyway. The chief priests are like the second son, who agrees immediately to go, but does the opposite. Most of us have good intentions. Many of us know what the right thing is to do or say, but it's much harder to actually do it. In Neidert Hall, a poster hung that said something like, "Your actions determine who you are." This may sound like an obvious platitude, but I often meet people who say one thing, but act in a completely opposite way. They don't seem to recognize the consequences of their own actions. Simply saying the right thing is not enough - we must accompany good words and intentions with matching behavior.

Let's be mindful that we stay attentive to the gentle nudgings of the Holy Spirit and of our own conscience, and that our behavior matches the words we profess and the ideals that we hold.

- Mandi Pitt-Reed, Pastoral Assistant