THE "YES" AND THE "NO"

TODAY'S GOSPEL:

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: What is your opinion?

A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, :Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave h same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first."

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not change your mind and believe him."

The Gospel today is real in the fact that the "yes" son and the "no" son are both in each of one of us since in different times our answer to God and to the duties of our life could be good or bad, faithful or unfaithful. We have all experienced little or bi "no" in our spiritual life, but many chances are given to submit to God once more and if we do we will be accepted and embraced by God's love again.

There is now no excuse for anyone to remain in an attitude of "no" to God's will as if sin is stronger than grace. There is no kind of life which excludes one from living in God's love and presence. I mean, there is no life of the rich or poor, of educated or uneducated, of powerful or humble people that could not or should not connect with the rich life of God, not even sinners and prostitutes, says Jesus in the Gospel.

-by Savino Bernardi, CS