Breaking Open the Word

By James Cavanagh

Sept. 28: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture readings:
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

Theme: Freedom and responsibility. Ezekiel was a prophet to his fellow Jews during the Babylonian exile (sixth century B.C.). His task was to console them and instill hope that someday they or their children or their grandchildren would return to Jerusalem. Although their plight was the consequence of sin they were not doomed to be cut off from God forever.  They needn’t be trapped by the past. Although they had betrayed the covenant, they could change, repent and return to the path of justice and righteousness and in so doing find life again. In the second reading Paul encourages the Christians at Philippi to be of one heart and mind. In imitation of Christ they have been called to give themselves in love for the sake of others.  In this week’s Gospel, two sons are each presented with a choice to do their father’s will. One complies, the other does not. All three readings bring to mind the fact that living the Catholic faith is not always easy. It sometimes involves hard choices—choices involving serious moral decisions with far-reaching consequences.

Key verse: “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5).

“Catechism of the Catholic Church”:  “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude” (No. 1731).
Pope Benedict XVI:  “Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good” [Address, April 16).

Application:  Each day presents us with dozens of opportunities to act in accordance with God’s will or not. Most of the choices we face are relatively small and seemingly unimportant.  But each choice, no matter how insignificant it might seem, is an invitation to say “yes” or “no” to God. And each “yes” makes us just a little bit stronger, a little more virtuous and one step closer to our beatitude.  Making the right choices in life is a lot easier when you have the mind of Christ.