Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
“Looking Ahead” is 0ur continuing series of reflections on the Sunday readings by Father Perry. This Sunday, we celebrate the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
Words are cheap! But we often hear it from our politicians during election campaigns.
Promises, promises, and more promises! —
“Taxes are going to be lowered while at the same time revenues will go up.”
“We are going to be out of debt and yet we are going to spend more.”
“Everything that is wrong will become right.”
A lot of words are spoken.
And this also occurs in religious circles and in the world of faith.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks a question, “What is your opinion?” then presents the situation.
Two sons each respond to their father when asked to go out to work in his vineyard.
One says, “yes,” but never goes; and the other says, “no,” but afterward has a change of heart and goes out to work.
Jesus’ question follows, “Who did his father’s will?”
The answer, “the one who did his father’s will” can be understood in one word: “conversion” — a change of heart.
Conversion is the core idea of all three readings today.
A change of mind, heart and will is what conversion is all about.
The “emptying of self” in the second reading is about going through deep, profound conversion — “God emptying himself and taking the form of a slave.”
Words are cheap; promises are easy. But admitting, “I am wrong,” and changing one’s ways — that is conversion.
