Ezekiel 18:25–28; Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 21:28–32
Can He Count on You?
A survey was conducted in a parish church during Sunday Mass. Among the questions asked was: “Do you think there should be a Bible Study in our parish?”
The priest was delighted when more than fifty people enthusiastically answered “Yes!” He immediately began making plans. Two weeks later, the priest asked them, ‘Are you willing to attend a Bible class?’” This time, only seven people said yes!
It is easy to say yes to an idea. It is much harder to say yes with our time, energy, sacrifice and commitment. That is precisely the question Jesus puts before us today: “Can God count on you?”
1. The Parable of the Two Sons
Jesus tells us about a father who says to his first son: “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The son answers: “I will not.” But later he changes his mind and goes.
The father asks the second son to do the same thing. He replies: “Yes, sir.” But he does not go.
Then Jesus asks the crucial question: “Which of the two did his father’s will?”
The answer is obvious: The first one.
The first son had the wrong words but eventually did the right thing.
The second son had the right words but ultimately did the wrong thing.
Jesus is teaching us something very important: God is not impressed merely by what comes out of our mouths. God looks at what comes out of our lives.
This is consistent with what Jesus says elsewhere: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” — Matthew 7:21. And James says: “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers” — James 1:22.
Christianity is not simply about saying the right words. It is about living the right life.
2. The First Son: A “No” That Became a “Yes”
The first son initially says no. Perhaps he was angry. Perhaps he was lazy. Perhaps he simply did not want to do what his father asked. But something happened inside him. He changed his mind. The Greek text of Matthew uses a word connected with a change of mind and heart (mentanoia). This is the heart of repentance.
The son did not remain trapped in his first decision. He changed. He went. He worked. His actions eventually spoke louder than his words.
This is why Jesus says something shocking to the religious leaders: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
Why? Because people whom society considered sinners were listening to John the Baptist, repenting and changing their lives.
They had previously said “No” to God through their sinful lives. But when they encountered God’s call, they changed their direction and said “Yes.”
This reminds us of the beautiful words of the prophet Ezekiel: “When the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is right and just, they shall surely live” — Ezekiel 18:27.
God does not ask: “What were you yesterday?”
He asks: “What are you doing today?”
That is the mercy of God.
Your past does not have to determine your future.
A sinner who sincerely repents can become a saint.
A person who has wandered away can come home.
A person who has said “no” to God for years can still say “yes” today.
3. The Second Son: A “Yes” That Became a “No”
The second son sounds wonderful. The father says, “Go and work.”
He immediately replies: “Yes, sir.”
Beautiful words!
Respectful words!
Religious words!
But then he does nothing.
His profession was better than his practice.
This is the danger Jesus wants us to recognize.
We can say:
“I love God.”
“I believe in Jesus.”
“I will pray.”
“I will forgive.”
“I will help.”
“I will come.”
“I will change.”
“I will serve.”
But the question is:
Do our actions follow our words?
Jesus once confronted people who were saying the right things but living differently: “They preach, but they do not practice” — Matthew 23:3.
That is a serious warning for every Christian.
We can attend Mass and still refuse to forgive.
We can carry a rosary and still speak cruelly to someone.
We can read the Bible and still refuse to obey it.
We can sing about love and still hold hatred in our hearts.
We can say “Thy will be done” every Sunday and then spend Monday through Saturday saying to God, “My will be done.”
The question is not whether we say “Lord, Lord.”
The question is whether our lives say “Yes, Lord.”
4. Ezekiel: God Gives Us the Freedom to Change
The first reading from Ezekiel gives us a beautiful message of personal responsibility and conversion.
God says, in effect, that when a wicked person turns away from evil and begins to practice what is right, that person will live.
This means that conversion is always possible.
God does not imprison us in our past.
The prophet challenges the people who were saying:
“The way of the Lord is unfair.”
God answers that it is not His way that is unfair; rather, He calls each person to examine his or her own life.
This is an important spiritual principle: We cannot change yesterday, but by God’s grace we can change today.
Maybe I have failed as a husband.
Maybe I have failed as a wife.
Maybe I have failed as a parent.
Maybe I have failed as a priest.
Maybe I have failed as a Christian.
Maybe I have made promises to God and broken them many times.
But God continues to say: “Come back.”
The story of the Prodigal Son gives us the same message. The son says: “I will get up and go to my father” — Luke 15:18. Notice those words: “I will get up.”
Repentance is not merely feeling sorry.
Repentance means getting up and going back to the Father.
5. “Can He Count on You?”
Let us bring the Gospel very personally into our lives.
When your family needs patience, can God count on you?
When someone hurts you, can God count on you to forgive?
When somebody is poor, can God count on you to help?
When someone is lonely, can God count on you to visit?
When the parish needs volunteers, can God count on you?
When the Church asks you to serve, can God count on you?
When temptation comes, can God count on you to remain faithful?
When you have an opportunity to speak the truth with charity, can God count on you?
When God asks you to forgive someone whom you do not want to forgive, can He count on you?
When God asks you to sacrifice your time, money, comfort or plans for another person, can He count on you?
These are the moments when our “yes” becomes real.
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