The prophet Zepheniah spoke woe to the rebellious, polluted,
tyrannical city. The Advent season is meant to transform that city, and
transform that cities inhabitants. And
in the Gospel today, we see just what that transformation is meant to look
like.
In the parable of the two sons, we see a very common
attitude characterized: those who say “Yes, Lord” with their lips, but, in
fact, don’t do what the Lord asks of them.
Advent is meant to transform our lip-service into…actual service. Elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus claims that
his followers aren’t merely those who cry out to him, “Lord, Lord”; his
followers are the ones who “do the will of his heavenly Father.” Jesus' Gospel
parable makes it clear that obedient service, not lip-service, is what pleases
God.
Half-way through Advent now, we’ve called for the Lord to
enter into our life in a radical way many times now: “Come, Come Emmanuel”, “Come,
Lord Jesus Come”, “Maranatha”. But these
prayers will remain mere lip-service, unless they lead to obedient service to
God.
There were many in Jesus’ day who appeared to be saying “no”
to God with their actions, the tax-collectors and prostitutes, but upon hearing
the call to repentance preached by John the Baptist and by Jesus himself,
turned their life over to God. And there were many who claimed to be saying “yes”
to God, namely the Temple hierarchy, who when hearing the call to change, they
rejected both John and Jesus.
In what part of my life is Jesus challenging me to change?
to be more respectful or more generous with my neighbor, to be more generous to
God with my time in order to enter into the life-changing prayer God wants for
me? To give up certain vices or attitudes which take away my joy? To give up
the need of thinking I know better, or that I always have to get my way all the
time?
Come Lord Jesus, transform our rebellious, polluted, tyrannical
hearts into hearts obedient, pure, and full of peace and charity for the glory
of God and salvation of souls.
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