27/09/2026
𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝙶𝚘𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚕🌱 | September 27, 2026 Ordinary Time
Who are we? Are we like the son who initially said no but later went to the vineyard, or like the son who said, “Yes, Lord,” but did not fulfill what his father asked?
In the Gospel of Matthew 21:28–32 last sunday, Jesus presents the parable of the two sons in the context of His confrontation with the chief priests and elders. The parable challenges those who claim to follow God but fail to respond to Him with genuine conversion and obedience.
The image of the vineyard reminds us of our participation in the Kingdom of God. It is not enough merely to say that we believe in God, to observe religious practices, or to know the commandments. What matters is whether our faith is reflected in the way we actually live.
This becomes clearer when we consider the events surrounding this Gospel. Jesus had entered Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple because it had been turned into a marketplace rather than remaining a house of prayer. He also cursed the fig tree, which can be understood as an image of something that appears fruitful but bears no fruit. These events point toward the same question: Does our relationship with God produce genuine fruit in our lives?
The second son represents those who say “yes” but do not act. In the context of the Gospel, Jesus was addressing religious leaders who outwardly appeared faithful but rejected God's call when it came through John. They knew the law and practiced their religious duties, yet they refused to respond with conversion. Meanwhile, tax collectors and prostitutes—people regarded as sinners and outsiders—were responding to John's call for repentance and were entering the Kingdom of God before them.
This does not mean that following the law or practicing our faith is wrong. Rather, Jesus reminds us that religious practice without conversion can become empty. Our prayers, participation in the Mass, formation, and other religious observances should lead us toward a deeper encounter with Christ and a transformed life.
At the same time, the first son reminds us that we do not always respond to God perfectly. Sometimes we say no. Sometimes we delay. Sometimes we fail to fulfill our promises. Yet God continues to call us. His patience gives us the opportunity to change our hearts and return to Him. The important thing is not simply what we said at first, but whether we eventually respond to God's invitation.
This gives us a challenge that faith must become active obedience. Our trust in God should be translated into concrete actions in our daily lives. For example, if we say that we love our neighbor, we should show that love by helping someone who is struggling. If we pray for the poor and marginalized, we should also be willing to reach out to them. If we ask God for forgiveness, we should also be willing to forgive others. Our “yes” to God becomes meaningful when it bears fruit in our actions.
Therefore, we do not have to wait until later in life before responding to God's call. The vineyard of the Lord is already before us—in our families, communities, school, workplace, parish, and in the people we encounter every day. God invites us to participate in His Kingdom through the concrete choices we make now.
Ultimately, this Gospel reminds us that genuine conversion begins with an encounter with Christ. May every Mass we attend, every prayer we offer, and every formation we receive lead us into a deeper encounter with Him. For these practices should not remain merely external religious activities; they should lead us toward genuine conversion, active obedience, and a life that bears fruit.
May we not be Christians who merely say, “Yes, Lord,” but Christians who live out that “yes” through our actions. May our faith bear fruit in the vineyard of the Lord.
