Collect Series: Collect for 26th Sunday Year A

 COLLECT SERIES

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COLLECT SERIES

COLLECT

The Collect for 26th Sunday Ordinary Time reads as follows

O God, who manifest Your almighty power above all

by pardoning and showing mercy,

Bestow, we pray Your grace abundantly upon us

And make those hastening to attain Your promises

heirs to the treasures of Heaven.

Though our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, 

who lives and reigns through the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged:

• How have I experienced the mercy of God?
• How might I experience the mercy of God this coming week?
• What hinders us from desiring the promises of Heaven right now? (attitudes/behaviours)?
• How can I re-educate myself on the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
• How will I express my gratitude for God’s mercy and pardon in my life this coming week?

 

GOSPEL REFLECTION   Mt 21;28-32

In the Gospel of Matthew,  Jesus often employs parables as a way to illustrate profound truths about the Kingdom of God. Among these is the Parable of the Two Sons in Matthew 21:28-32. At a glance, it may seem like a simple story about the dynamics of obedience and disobedience, but beneath its surface lies a powerful lesson about repentance, actions, and the Kingdom of Heaven from a Catholic perspective.

The story begins with a man with two sons. He goes to the first and says, “‘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 then goes to the second son with the same instruction, to which he replies, “‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.”

When asked which of the two sons did the father's will, the chief priests and elders, to whom Jesus was speaking, responded, "The first." Jesus then draws a parallel between this parable and the conversion of sinners, stating that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before the self-righteous religious leaders.

The essence of this parable can be distilled into a few key lessons:

1.    Genuine Repentance: The first son, despite initially refusing the request of his father, undergoes a change of heart and ultimately obeys. This mirrors the path of sinners who, despite their initial refusal to follow God's ways, undergo conversion and genuinely seek to do His will.

2.    Actions Speak Louder: The second son, despite assuring his father he would do the task, fails to follow through. This reflects the hollow nature of mere verbal commitments without the intent or effort to act on them.

3.    The Unexpected in the Kingdom: Jesus, throughout His ministry, challenged societal norms and expectations. Here, He highlights that those deemed the "worst" by societal standards—tax collectors and prostitutes—through genuine repentance and acts, are closer to the Kingdom of Heaven than the religious leaders who professed righteousness but lacked authenticity in their commitment.

 

This parable is a call to self-examination and authenticity.  We may ask ourselves:

·         How often have we made promises in our prayer lives only to falter in our actions?

·        How often have we judged others for their past while priding ourselves on our supposed righteousness?

This Gospel passage reminds us of the significance of genuine conversion and the authenticity of our actions. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, so integral to Catholic life, is not merely about confessing sins but genuinely turning back to God with a renewed commitment.

The Ever-Open Doors of the Kingdom

Jesus' message is clear: the doors of the Kingdom are open to everyone, even those who have strayed far away. But entry requires more than mere words—it necessitates an authentic change of heart and commitment to God's will.

Let’s reflect upon our own lives in the light of this parable.

·  Are we the first son, who, despite our shortcomings, genuinely seeks to align our actions with God's will? Or

·      Are we the second, who makes empty promises and lacks the commitment to actualize our faith?

The beauty of our faith lies in the mercy and love of God, who continuously invites us to return, to repent, and to truly live out the Gospel in our lives.

 Let's ensure our words and deeds align, echoing the genuine commitment of the first son, as we strive to journey closer to the Kingdom of Heaven.