Weekly Reflection 9/27/2020

REFLECTION FOR 9-27-2020

Actions speak louder than words…

In today’s gospel, both sons disrespect their father.  The first one says that he’ll do what his father asks of him, but then does not do it.  The second son says that he will not do what his father asks of him, but then changes his mind and does it.

Jesus doesn’t ask who was right or wrong, he just wants to know which son did the will of his father.  Of course, it was the second son.  His words were disrespectful, but he did what was right in the end.  Actions speak louder than words.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  It is up to us, God’s family on earth, to accomplish God’s will here.  When we pray the words of the Our Father, we are saying that we’ll do what the Father asks of us – just like the first son in the gospel.  But we can’t stop with words.  We must also follow the lead of the second son; and go out into God’s “vineyard” to do the will of God.

The will of God may be calling us to change direction or to encourage someone else to change direction.  It may be leading us to speak up when we prefer to be silent or to listen attentively when we prefer to speak up.  God’s will may take us out of our comfort zone.  It may lead us to people and places that we never would have otherwise encountered.  It may require sacrifice and hard work.

But one thing is certain:  God is calling us to do his will.  And he is waiting for our response.  We would do well to remember that…

Actions speak louder than words.