26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A

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CHANGE OF MIND



Parents agree that children are born different from each other. Even twins show their distinct identity early enough. And so parents know that one kid is respectful and obedient while another is stubborn and unyeilding. Parents naturally favor the former over the latter. This typical sibling characters are portrayed well in the parable today (Mt. 21: 28ff).



The father needs help in the vineyard. So he orders his two sons to go. The first flatly refuses him. The second very respectfully (calling him “sir”) obliges. But the initial response is not the crucial part. It is what happens after that moment that truly matters.



The son who refused ended up working in the farm. The son who promised to go did not honor his word. Why the reversal of intentions? What happened?



There was no explanation given to the second son’s failure to obey. The reading however says that the first son had a “change of mind.” Experts say this is not an ordinary change of decision. Before this, the son experienced disgust and shame for having answered his father negatively. This feeling made him conquer his own laziness and pride and to rectify his fault.



In our society today, do we still believe people can really feel remorse, change their mind and improve their lives? Or do we permanently label them as incapable of reform? Should bad people just die in the streets? Should we just condemn the ones we perceive are bad? And we, are we so good that we truly always obey and honor God?



A famous action star proved positive for shabu addiction some years back. Even a senator admitted to using drugs in his teens. There are many stories of people who started wrong but ended on the right path. May we be like them. May we believe that with grace, God can heal and correct our stubborness.


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