Oct 01, 2023 English

Some people are exceptionally gifted with their ability to express themselves in words. Many politicians are often endowed with this. I admire those people who have the mastery of words. In articulating what one wants to communicate, rhetoric is important, gestures and facial expressions are critical. Meaningful content accompanied by effective delivery and confident presence is regarded as eloquence.
 
At the same time, I know the real challenge is not just a beautiful speech and masterful presentation, because the kingdom of God is where impressive words mean absolutely nothing and only actions count. The parable of today’s gospel makes this very clear. There is a contrast between words and actions, between empty promises, but no action.  Brother #1 said yes in words but no in action, while brother #2 said no in words but yes in action.
 
This parable can be the defense of the gospel preached to sinners and outcasts, in the face of sneers from the self-confident religious establishment. The yes-sayers may symbolize the Jews while the no-sayers may symbolize the Gentiles who welcomed the gospel. Repentance signifies regret and a change of mind, a basic turnaround. Jesus proclaims what will be God’s judgment on the last day. The yes-sayer politely says “Sir” (kyrie, “Lord”), but does not do the will of the Father (see Mt 7:21). So, who will go into the kingdom of God?
 
In the business world, envisioning and planning is important, but what really matters is implementation. In our entry into the kingdom of God, good intentions are not good enough. Repenting and practicing the will of God is crucial. Words are important but what really counts is actions.
 
Our journey to God is a matter of gradual changes. Changes involve our discernment of the right path and our decision to walk that path. Our day-to-day life is full of choices. Whether to pray or not? Whether to follow the way of the Lord or the horoscope?

Dorothy Day is a significant figure in American and Catholic history with an astonishing change from a bohemian anarchist to a formidable gospel practitioner through her voluntary poverty and heroic advocacy for the poor.  It is the selfless sacrifices of Fr. Emil Kapaun with no regard for his safety in the battlefield that revealed the compassionate face of Christ to others. The recently Blessed Fr. Stanley Rother was a totally ordinary unremarkable farm boy but later he became an extraordinarily good shepherd to his people and became a martyr in Guatemala. St Therese of Lisieux, whose feast day is today, reminds us that our words, gestures, and actions need to stem from love: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love."

We run into these ordinary but heroic promoters and practitioners of the gospel in our lives. They take care of things for the Lord and for His people without any fanfare and without looking for any recognition.
 
We are always presented with various choices in life. How to think about material things, how to use them – just as a means of our own needs and pleasure or for the common good and in honor of God. We are accountable in our actions. We may want to consider clarifying our needs and wants, curtailing ambitions and greed, and simplifying lifestyles.

So, who’s entering the kingdom of God first? Let’s read the gospel again.

Fr. Paul D. Lee