26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle A) October 1, 2017

The Humble Path: Scott Hahn Reflection

Reading I: Ezekiel 18:25-28   Since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,

                                                             he shall surely live, he shall not die

Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9   Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5    He humbled himself,

                                                                                    becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32  Which of the two did his father's will?"

He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself. (2nd Reading)

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Echoing the complaint heard in last week’s readings, this Sunday's First Reading again presents protests that God isn’t fair. Why does He punish with death one who begins in virtue but falls into iniquity, while granting life to the wicked one who turns from sin?

This is the question that Jesus takes up in the parable in today’s Gospel.

The first son represents the most heinous sinners of Jesus’ day—tax collectors and prostitutes—who by their sin at first refuse to serve in the Lord’s vineyard, the kingdom. At the preaching of John the Baptist, they repented and did what is right and just. The second son represents Israel’s leaders – who said they would serve God in the vineyard, but refused to believe John when he told them they must produce good fruits as evidence of their repentance (see Matthew 3:8).

Once again, this week’s readings invite us to ponder the unfathomable ways of God’s justice and mercy. He teaches His ways only to the humble, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And in the Epistle, Paul presents Jesus as the model of that humility by which we come to know life’s true path.

In Paul's letter to the Philippians he sings a beautiful hymn to the Incarnation. Unlike Adam, the first man, who in his pride grasped at being God, the New Adam, Jesus, humbled himself to become a slave, obedient even unto death on the Cross (see Romans 5:14). In this He has shown sinners—each one of us—the way back to the Father. We can only come to God, to serve in His vineyard, the Church, by having that same attitude as Christ.

This is what Israel’s leaders lacked. In their vainglory, they presumed their superiority—that they had no further need to hear God’s Word or God’s servants.

But this is the way to death, as God tells Ezekiel today. We are always to be emptying ourselves, seeking forgiveness for our sins and frailties, confessing on bended knee that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father.

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Reading I: Ezekiel 18:25-28   [if] he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life;

Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9    Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5   

He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross      

.. . . . . AND. . . . .

at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord

Reading II: Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5 

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Which of the two did his father's will?"

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