Daily Readings - Sun Oct 01 2017
First Reading - Ezekiel 18.25-28
Ezekiel
25And you have said, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Therefore, listen, O house of Israel. How could it be that my way is not fair? And is it not instead your ways that are perverse26For when the just man turns himself away from his justice, and commits iniquity, he shall die by this; by the injustice that he has worked, he shall die27And when the impious man turns himself away from his impiety, which he has done, and accomplishes judgment and justice, he shall cause his own soul to live28For by considering and turning himself away from all his iniquities, which he has worked, he shall certainly live, and he shall not die
Second Reading - Philippians 2.1-5
Philippians
1Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, any solace of charity, any fellowship of the Spirit, any feelings of commiseration2complete my joy by having the same understanding, holding to the same charity, being of one mind, with the same sentiment3Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself4Let each of you not consider anything to be your own, but rather to belong to others5For this understanding in you was also in Christ Jesus
Gospel - Matthew 21.28-32
Matthew
28But how does it seem to you? A certain man had two sons. And approaching the first, he said: ‘Son, go out today to work in my vineyard.29And responding, he said, ‘I am not willing.’ But afterwards, being moved by repentance, he went30And approaching the other, he spoke similarly. And answering, he said, ‘I am going, lord.’ And he did not go31Which of the two did the will of the father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them: "Amen I say to you, that tax collectors and prostitutes shall precede you, into the kingdom of God32For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Yet even after seeing this, you did not repent, so as to believe him
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about justice, humility, and the call to live out our faith authentically. The first reading from Ezekiel challenges us to reflect on God’s justice and our own responsibility. Ezekiel emphasizes that God’s ways are fair, and it is we who often stray from the path of righteousness. This passage invites us to consider our own lives—where are we turning away from justice and toward sin? Ezekiel reassures us that repentance is always possible; turning back to God can lead to life and renewal.
The second reading from Philippians shifts our focus to the importance of humility and unity in our communities. Paul encourages us to have the same mind as Christ, who emptied himself for the sake of others. This is not a call to self-deprecation but to selfless love. Paul reminds us that true joy comes from being of one mind and heart, esteeming others better than ourselves. This passage challenges us to examine our relationships—do we seek to serve others or to elevate ourselves? It calls us to a way of life that mirrors Christ’s humility and compassion.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about two sons, one who refuses to obey but later repents, and another who promises to obey but does not. Jesus uses this story to highlight the importance of actions over words. The tax collectors and prostitutes, who were considered outcasts, believed John the Baptist and changed their lives, while the religious leaders refused to repent. This parable challenges us to reflect on our own response to God’s call. Are we like the first son, who initially resists but ultimately does the will of the father? Or are we like the second son, who promises much but fails to act?
These readings remind us that faith is not just about what we say but about how we live. Ezekiel calls us to repentance and justice, Philippians to humility and unity, and the Gospel to obedience and authenticity. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living in a way that reflects these values? Are we turning away from sin and toward God? Are we serving others with humility? Let us strive to be like the first son, who, despite initial resistance, ultimately did the will of the father. May we repent, turn to God, and live in a way that truly reflects the love and justice of Christ.