September 27, 2026 -26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 21:28-32) presents a simple yet piercing parable about the obedience. A father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first refuses bluntly—“I will not”—but later changes his mind and goes. The second answers politely—“Yes, sir”—yet never shows up. Jesus asks the religious leaders: which son did the father’s will? They correctly answer, “The first.” Jesus then turns the parable on them. Tax collectors and prostitutes—people who initially said “no” to God through their lives—heard John the Baptist’s call, repented, and entered the kingdom ahead of those who claimed faithfulness to God, but resisted conversion to follow Jesus.
The first reading from Ezekiel (18:25-28) echoes the same truth. God’s ways are not unfair. A virtuous person who turns to sin faces the consequences of that choice. But a sinner who turns from wickedness and does what is right and just “shall surely live.” God judges not by past reputation or empty promises, but by the present direction of the heart and the concrete actions that follow.
St. Paul, in the second reading (Philippians 2:1-11), shows us the perfect model of this obedience. Jesus “emptied himself… becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” His “yes” was not mere words; it was lived out completely. Because of that total self-giving, God highly exalted him.
These readings invite honest self-examination. Do we sometimes resemble the second son—quick with religious language, regular in practice, yet slow to act when the vineyard demands real sacrifice, forgiveness, generosity, or change? Or do we, like the first son, recognize our refusals and allow God’s mercy to turn us around? The good news is that God never closes the door on a change of heart. Today’s psalm prays, “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” Those mercies are always available. Conversion is possible at any moment. What matters is that we eventually go into the vineyard and do the work.
This week, let us ask for the grace of genuine repentance—not just regret, but a decisive turning that shows itself in action. May we grow in the humility of Christ, who said “yes” with his whole life, and may our words and deeds become one. Lord, teach us your ways. Help us to move beyond empty promises and live in obedience to you that will lead us to eternal life.
God bless everyone always!!!
Fr. Stan
