26th Sunday Ordinary Time (A) 1 October 2023 Freedom of choice
Two sons give different responses. One says he will not but then reconsiders; the other says he will but does not (Mt 21, 28-32).
The one who does obey, albeit after a delay, is the one for us to follow.
Delay is not recommended but God in His infinite mercy allows some leeway there.
It can take many years for some people to bring their lives under God's authority, even when they know they should have acted sooner.
Ultimately, God wants every person in the world to be united with Him, as child of the Father, disciple of the Son. There are a lot of people in the world, but the same principle applies to all.
Being in union with God will mean that we have to obey Him when He commands or forbids something. And this we can find daunting.
Whereas the alternative is to do as we please, without reference to God or any other restraints which might be in place.
This latter way is appealing because it offers instant happiness without requiring restraint or discipline. There will be an account rendered, however!
It really comes to a battle of viewpoints - short term versus long term. In the short term the way of sin looks good; in the long term the way of God is much more rewarding.
Whether sooner or later we must put our lot with God; there is no salvation anywhere else.
In the parable the two sons have only one choice to make. In life we have hundreds of occasions to decide good or evil. If we are conscious of the choice we can ensure we are moving towards God rather than away from Him.
Why is it so hard to see all this? It is because of previous sin which has warped our capacity to judge. Sin darkens the mind and weakens the will.
We either do not see what is right (intellect) or lack the desire to carry it out (will).
Humans are complicated because we have rationality, the ability to reflect on our actions, and on such things as the meaning of life. We have free will, a privilege shared only with angels of all God's creation.
With God's help we can exercise the free will towards the better alternatives.
The best outcome is where we obey God, we do His will, yet it is because we want to, not because we have to. We realize how good God is to us, and embrace His will for us.
The command to children: Eat your vegetables first, before dessert – this is what it comes to. One can come to like vegetables, and so one can come to ‘like’ God's commands – because they are good for us!
Now we have union between two minds, two hearts.
With full freedom we do the best thing, and this as a matter of habit.
Meanwhile God's grace will go to work on all the people who hold out against Him, who refuse to recognize or obey Him.
He reaches some and not others. We hope for a time when conversions flow more quickly than at present. And we pray that people who are not so clear will see things in a new light and make that happy change for the better.
What we are at the point of death decides our eternal destiny. We can do a lot of things to make that moment as it should be. Prayer, Sacraments, Good works, Penance.
All the time we are learning what it means to be a disciple of Christ; trusting that He will lead us to the right way of seeing things.
That we have a choice increases our glory and gives glory to God.
Yes, Lord, we say, and we do.
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