Transformation

Today, Jesus is urging and inviting the religious leaders to accept another kind of transformation: a transformed vision of life in which you actually do what you say you will do! How refreshing! Jesus is saying it is not always the one who quickly says "I'll do it" who actually does it. And it is not always the one who refuses to obey who ends up disobeying.

One scholar makes an interesting point: neither son really gladdens a father's heart; the one finally obeys, but neither of them has done the father's will perfectly. He comments, "Neither son brings full joy to the father....The ideal son would be the son who accepted the father's orders with obedience and respect, and who unquestioningly and fully carried them out" (Wm. Barclay).

In a way, this parable teaches us both sides of that coin. A courteous person who drives us crazy because he or she doesn't do the job is not much better than a rude person who does the job, but spoils a good thing with a lack of courtesy. Both kinds of people need transformation.

Consistency in Word and Deed

In Jesus' story, the Jewish leaders (who stand for us, as well) said they would obey God, but then they did not really obey the spirit of the law. Meanwhile, the prostitutes and tax-collectors (who also represent us) "said that they would go their own way, and then took God's way" (Ibid.).

This gospel is about seeking consistency between our words and our deed-and this means change. But to replace an old behavior with a new one must also mean getting rid of the old behavior. We have to empty ourselves of anything, in fact, which is not helping us listen to the voice and the urgings of God. That is a tall order; but it is the only way to become more like Christ himself.

Jesus could claim equality with God if he wished, as St. Paul reminds us. But Jesus emptied himself of power and authority, and humbled himself to take on the pain of a human form and human life. He even humbled himself to the kind of obedience that called him to death on the cross-words we say rather glibly, but we cannot imagine what this meant.

What will obedience to God call us to? Will we be empty enough to hear the call, much less to answer it? And we cannot abandon our listening post because we feel frustrated; nor can we abandon another person, because we think they are not changing quickly enough.

Transformation Takes Time

There may be many false answers and false starts in our lives before we have the courage to do what we say we will do. Maybe a divorce or some traumatic event, maybe the painful results of some other bad decision, will devastate us and make us feel like never listening for God's voice again. Or we may feel a deadness of spirit that will help us by forcing us to cry out for transformation.

As St. Paul says, "Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus... (Who) emptied himself." So, let us prepare for our transformation. Jesus is asking us to listen again, and do what it takes to receive our inner and outer makeover. Prepare to see your true beauty!