“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.” – Matthew 21:30

Roger was a successful businessman. That’s probably why a neighbor approached him and asked if he wanted to be involved in a new hamburger chain he was starting. He offered Roger the fourth franchise. Roger’s dad, who was himself an astute businessman, said, “Take it!”

       Roger thought about it but later on turned down the deal. He must have regretted that decision when that startup burger joint, named McDonalds, became the giant chain it is today. He was on the brink of so much wealth, but he missed it because of one decision: He ignored his father’s smart advice.

       You may be on the edge of one monumental and life-changing blessing right now. You may be on the threshold of something big that God wants to give you. It may be an emotional treasure, a financial blessing, the answer to a longtime prayer, a special relationship, a new beginning, maybe a greater impact in your ministry, or a breakthrough in some impossible situation. But, like that man who missed his share of Ronald McDonald’s fortune, it may all come down to your making the right decision. Will you avoid sin and obey God, or ignore Him and have it your way? Jon Escoto (faithatworkjon@gmail.com)

Reflection: This Christmas season, don’t miss out on the greatest Treasure of all. Let our celebrations center on the Reason for the Season: Jesus.

Father, I’m being tempted and it has become too difficult. Help me to obey You.

Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, pray for us.

Zephaniah tells us the importance of humility in our relationship with God. Humility is essential if we want to learn anything from God. If we are not humble enough to accept correction or listen like a novice sitting at the feet of his master, then we will never grow as a Christian. A disciple of Jesus must be willing to learn from the example of Jesus’ life and from any authority the Lord decides to send to us. Humility is a virtue that will ensure that we remain obedient to God’s will and open to His guidance and direction, whether we fully understand God’s reasoning or not.

1 Thus says the Lord: Woe to the city, rebellious and polluted, to the tyrannical city! 2 She hears no voice, accepts no correction; in the Lord she has not trusted, to her God she has not drawn near. 9 For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, that they all may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one accord; 10 from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and as far as the recesses of the North, they shall bring me offerings. 11 On that day you need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; for then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. 12 But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord; 13 the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 16 [17] The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. 17 [18] When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (R) 18 [19] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. 22 [23] The Lord redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. (R)

Are we on the path to eternal life or not? Jesus seems to imply that it is possible that we may not, unless we are truly obedient to His will. We live in a world where the focus on the self is a chronic problem. It seems to lead to increasing levels of selfishness and, thus, destruction in the strength of our understanding of the common good. Let us obey God’s will in our lives even when it is others who will benefit more than ourselves from our obedience.

Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people.

28 Jesus said to the chief priests and the 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.’ 29 He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 30 The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. 31 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. 32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

think:  Let us pray that we will never grow tired of living with integrity.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Joel 1-4

A FAITH GOD CAN SEE

There was a father who called his three children together. As they sat together in a circle on the floor, the dad placed a toy in the middle. He explained to them that he won the toy as a door prize and he wanted to give it to one of them but with a condition. He asked them, “Who is the most obedient?” The children just stared at him. Sensing that they didn’t understand the word, he then asked, “OK, who always obeys Mommy and does everything she says?”

       One of the children picked up the toy and handed it to the father. “You win!” exclaimed the child.

       The children may not have understood the word obedient but they saw it in the actions of their father.

       It is plain in the Parable of the Two Sons that obedience, i.e., acting on the Word of God, is a condition for entry in the Kingdom. In the parable, we saw a son who said yes but did not do his father’s command and another who said no but eventually did his father’s command. Obedience is not something God wants to hear from us. It is something God wants to see. God wants children whose faith He can see and not just a faith He can hear.

       Isn’t that what happens every Sunday or every time we gather at Mass to worship? We profess our faith and God hears it. I’m sure it is something sweet to the ears of God, but there is something sweeter — candy to the eyes of God – when we put actions to back up our faith. How many times in the Scriptures have we read, “When Jesus saw their faith….” precede a miracle?

       When you continue to smile at difficult people at the office, when you say no to personal TV time to attend to your children, when you continue to understand an erring spouse, when you continue to give in times of scarcity, when you struggle to get off your bed and go to Church for Mass — that is the kind of obedience that God wants to see. That is putting actions behind your faith. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is your faith life audiovisual?

Bless me with the strength to obey You today, O Lord — that I may gain favor in Your eyes and a place in Your Kingdom.