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Jesus has been a few days in Jerusalem moving around in the neighborhood of the temple. He does not find in the streets the friendly welcome he received in the villages of Galilee. Religious leaders who pass his way try to discredit him in front of the simple people of the capital city. They will not stop till they send him to the cross.
Jesus remains unperturbed. With untiring patience he continues to call them to conversion. He tells them a simple anecdote which comes to his mind when he sees them: the conversation between a father who asks his two sons to go to work in the family vineyard.
The first son turns the father down with a brusque refusal: “I will not”. He does not give him any explanation. Quite simply, he just doesn’t want to. Later, however, he gives it a thought and reflects that he is rejecting his father and he goes to the vineyard with a contrite heart.
The second son listens amiably to the request of his father:”I will, sir.” He seems ready to fulfill his wishes, but soon forgets what he has said. He does not think of his father again. They’re no more than polite words. He does not go to the vineyard.
Just in case they haven’t got his message, Jesus, addressing “the high priests and the elders of the people”, applies the parable to them to challenge them directly: “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” He wants them to recognize their resistance to joining the project of the Father.
They are the “professionals” of religion: those who have said a big “yes” to the God of the temple, the experts in the conduct of temple worship, the guardians of the Law. They have no need to be converted. That is why, when the prophet John came to prepare the way of the Lord they said “no”; when Jesus came to invite them to enter into his kingdom, they again said “no”.
The tax collectors and the prostitutes, on the other hand, are “professional sinners”: those who have said a big “no” to the God of religion; those who have placed themselves outside the pale of the Law and sacred worship. Their hearts, however, have remained open to conversion. When John came they believed in him; when Jesus came they accepted him.
Religion does not always lead to doing the will of the Father. We can feel secure in the fulfillment of our religious duties and get accustomed to thinking we have no need to convert or change; those who have drifted from religion are the ones who have to do so. That is why it is so dangerous to replace listening to the Gospel with religious piety. Jesus said so: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Spread abroad the call to conversion.
English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.
25 September 2011
THE DANGER OF RELIGION
Matthew 21, 28-32
José Antonio Pagola transleted by Rev.Fr.Valentine de Souza SJ
Jesus has been a few days in Jerusalem moving around in the neighborhood of the temple. He does not find in the streets the friendly welcome he received in the villages of Galilee. Religious leaders who pass his way try to discredit him in front of the simple people of the capital city. They will not stop till they send him to the cross.
Jesus remains unperturbed. With untiring patience he continues to call them to conversion. He tells them a simple anecdote which comes to his mind when he sees them: the conversation between a father who asks his two sons to go to work in the family vineyard.
The first son turns the father down with a brusque refusal: “I will not”. He does not give him any explanation. Quite simply, he just doesn’t want to. Later, however, he gives it a thought and reflects that he is rejecting his father and he goes to the vineyard with a contrite heart.
The second son listens amiably to the request of his father:”I will, sir.” He seems ready to fulfill his wishes, but soon forgets what he has said. He does not think of his father again. They’re no more than polite words. He does not go to the vineyard.
Just in case they haven’t got his message, Jesus, addressing “the high priests and the elders of the people”, applies the parable to them to challenge them directly: “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” He wants them to recognize their resistance to joining the project of the Father.
They are the “professionals” of religion: those who have said a big “yes” to the God of the temple, the experts in the conduct of temple worship, the guardians of the Law. They have no need to be converted. That is why, when the prophet John came to prepare the way of the Lord they said “no”; when Jesus came to invite them to enter into his kingdom, they again said “no”.
The tax collectors and the prostitutes, on the other hand, are “professional sinners”: those who have said a big “no” to the God of religion; those who have placed themselves outside the pale of the Law and sacred worship. Their hearts, however, have remained open to conversion. When John came they believed in him; when Jesus came they accepted him.
Religion does not always lead to doing the will of the Father. We can feel secure in the fulfillment of our religious duties and get accustomed to thinking we have no need to convert or change; those who have drifted from religion are the ones who have to do so. That is why it is so dangerous to replace listening to the Gospel with religious piety. Jesus said so: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Spread abroad the call to conversion.
Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site
http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org
Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net
Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean. 
very touching bhajan, aava geeto shabhadva mate kaan taraasta hoi che. biju ke BBN ne dhanyavad nava yuvano ne dharmasabha ma karyrat karva ma teno aaje uttam fado rahelo che, aajna yuvano apdi kal ni majbut ane educated pedhi banse tya nahi koi garib ke dhanvan hoi te badhaj potani talent thi dhanvan hase.
ReplyDeletejai BBN Jai Isu