The Reversed Call (2011-09-25)

This is my homily for Sunday 25 September 2011. I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.

● Ezekiel 18:25-28 ● Psalm 25 ● Philippians 2:1-11 ● Matthew 21:28-32 ●

[__01] Isn’t it easier to wake up early in the morning on the days that we don’t actually have to be at work, or at school …or anywhere at any particular time?
Of course, some of us might take the opportunity for extra sleep on such an occasion too ..but the alarm clock is less of a space invader on holidays, or non working days?

[__02] In the parable we have just read, there are 2 sons, two children of the same father who has a vineyard – the family business – in which he wants them to work – today.

Each of the sons wakes up with a different attitude, we might say. One with an attitude of freedom, the other of obligation.

Consider that they wake up at the same time. Both would have to clock in at the vineyard at the same time. But, for one, he has risen from his bed, put on his clothes, with excitement.. it is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off …and he is too cool go to school or to any “vineyard”. This is the son who, at first, says No …I’m not going into the vineyard. He is going to cut class, this is his direction.

Then, there is the other son..one of A Few Good Men who puts on his uniform willingly …and goes into the vineyard..or at least, he heads in that direction.

[__03] But, then, something happens along the way – to both of them.
The one who began with such earnestness, such seriousness … loses his enthusiasm, changes out of his uniform, his work clothes… and decides not to work at all.
This seems to catch everyone by surprise ..he is the one with the high grades, the excellent work history…

When he says he is not going to work…no one argues with him, no one begs him. Perhaps, no one expected more.

[__04] Yes, it is certainly easier to wake up in the morning… perhaps on the holiday break between the 2 semesters.
On those days of fewer required activities, fewer obligations… or, perhaps no obligations.

[__05] This parable invites us to change our minds, as the son in the parable does.

Some days – or at some points in our life – we may also wake up – or start up with no intention of keeping our promises … or following through …or doing what is required.

We also begin with every intention of cutting corners or cutting class.

We may even vacillate back and forth – we may waver – in our level of commitment.

[__06] Isn’t this especially true when we are challenged by something that is mandatory, non-negotiable, non-discretionary.

That is, even if we fulfill our responsibilities, we do so at the absolute minimum level… or with absolute minimum cheerfulness.

The parable reminds us that we will have requirements, required obligations, commandments to go into the vineyard on behalf of our children, parents, students, family …

We may be asked to contribute to others with our time, or our money …

At such times, faced with these requirements, we are invited to pray … not to pray about how we can get out of it … but to pray about…

• Why am I in it?
• Why I am here..
• Rather than “why me”… why NOT me?

And, then, perhaps, changing our mind, and going to the vineyard, we can discover the choice really was ours to make, freely.

In this way, we spend less time trying to change what is required …but rather praying about… asking the Holy Spirit … how can what is required … change you and me. [__fin__]