{"id":9674,"date":"2023-10-01T11:55:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T15:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=9674"},"modified":"2023-10-01T11:55:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-01T15:55:02","slug":"26th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/26th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-4\/","title":{"rendered":"26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

26th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A<\/a>
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (6a)
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32
October 1, 2023 – Respect Life Sunday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the prophet Ezekiel the Lord is speaking with his people.  They say, \u201cThe Lord\u2019s way is not fair!<\/em>\u201d  They are in exile in Babylon.  They feel they are being punished for the sins of their ancestors.  This is what they say is not fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord responds to say that one is only punished for their own sins.  One is judged by where their heart is in the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One should not assume if they have been virtuous in the past, God will overlook a present sin.  The Lord explicitly tells the people that if a virtuous person \u201cturns away from virtue to commit iniquity,<\/em>\u201d they will die for their sin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not fear!  There is hope for the Lord also says that is one \u201cturns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repentance is possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which way are you facing now?  Have you turned away from virtue to sin?  Or have you turned from the wickedness to what is right and just?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we turn away from wickedness, we cry out, \u201cthe sins of my youth and frailties remember not<\/em>.\u201d  We are weak and fall into sin.  The Lord will redeem us if we repent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we seek to do what the Lord asks of us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus tells the story of a man with two sons.  He tells the first son to go out and work in the vineyard.  The first son says, \u201cI will not,<\/em>\u201d but \u201cafterwards changed his mind<\/em>\u201d and did what his father directed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The father then tells the second son and gave him the same<\/em><\/strong> order.  He replied yes but never did it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus then poses the question, \u201cWhich of the two did<\/u><\/strong> his father\u2019s will<\/em>?\u201d  The one who actually did is the first son who had first said he won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which son are you like?  Do you say you will do what God asks of you but don\u2019t?  Or do you say no but then realize better and follow the Lord\u2019s way?  The chief priests and elders said they would but didn\u2019t.  The tax collectors and sinners had not but repented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tax collectors and sinners are the ones who came to know that \u201cJesus Christ is Lord.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many people today who do not really know Jesus.  They are others who know Jesus and call him Lord but don\u2019t understand the significance of calling him Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To call Jesus \u201cLord\u201d is to follow his way.  If we truly believe that Jesus is Lord, we will seek to be \u201cof the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing<\/em>\u201d with him.  We will seek to do God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will \u201cdo nothing out of selfishness.<\/em>\u201d  We will \u201chumbly regard others as more important than<\/em>\u201d ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, when our parents grow old, they may need a lot of care.  Do we put them in a nursing home so that we aren\u2019t bothered by their needs (selfishness) or do we look for them to get the care they need, whether it is at home or in a nursing home?  Do we cherish their life or do we see their needs as an inconvenience to us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What about someone facing a pregnancy?  Do they choose what is convenient for them or do they make the child in the womb their first priority?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we look to the needs of others?   Do we stand for life?  Do we do so only with words or do our actions show our support for life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus sets the example.  He was with God in Heaven.  \u201cHe was in the form of God<\/em>\u201d but \u201cdid not regard equality with God something to be grasped.<\/em>\u201d  He \u201cemptied himself, taking the form of a slave.<\/em>\u201d  He became human not for selfishness reasons or vainglory.  Jesus became human to save us from our sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s think about this.  Jesus emptied himself.  He gave us his place in Heaven to save us<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.  He sacrificed himself to save us<\/u><\/em><\/strong>.  What difference does knowing this make to you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you empty yourself of worldly desires and stop seeking glory for yourself, and respond to the needs of those around you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you a parent who has made sacrifices for the good of your children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you give of your time to help others in need?  Do you give of your own wealth (each according to his means) to help others who do not have enough?  Do you pray for them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All life matters.  All life is a gift.  May we do what we can to help those in need, physically and spiritually.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AEzekiel 18:25-28Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (6a)Philippians 2:1-11Matthew 21:28-32October 1, 2023 – Respect Life Sunday Through the prophet Ezekiel the Lord is speaking with his people.  They say, \u201cThe Lord\u2019s way is not fair!\u201d  They are in exile in Babylon.  They feel they are being punished for the sins of …<\/p>\n

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