I WILL NOT

I WIll NoT…

 

“‘I will not’… but afterwards he changed his mind and went.” – Matthew 21:29

 

“I will not” was my consistent answer to the invitation of my best friend. He had been attending these “corny” Charismatic prayer meetings and was resolute to bring me there.

We were ordinary high school students who attended (and cut) classes, had superhero stickers on our notebooks and watched X-rated Betamax tapes. (That’s how old I am.)

Yet, after his frequent attendance to this “addiction,” he became an alien. He didn’t cut class anymore. He placed “Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen” stickers on his notebooks. He watched biblical movies on Beta tapes. And worse, he started reading the Bible and singing “Alive, alive” songs! Finally,  he convinced me to attend. But not without the magic words: “Obet, they serve merienda after the prayer meeting.” Off I went to the corniest, weirdest and what turned out to be the greatest experience of my entire life. Now I’m almost 20 years in the Lord’s service. Why? Because only fools don’t change their minds. Because God allows U-turns. Because a hardened heart can become a heart so solid as God’s witness. Because repentance literally means “change of mind.” Because now I am an alien, too.

I will not… give up on God! Obet Cabrillas

 

REFLECTION:

Don’t give up on people who refuse the Great Invitation. They’ve got what it takes: when they give in, they won’t give up in the service of the God who calls.

 

Lord, thank You that it’s never too late to change one’s mind. You are a God of second chances and new beginnings.

 

RepentAnce As pARt Of OuR Advent pRepARAtiOn

 

Today’s gospel Parable of the Two Sons takes on an added relevance during this Advent season. In fact, it can be best understood against the context of the expectation for the Messianic kingdom. It is, after all, a kingdom which is not restricted or exclusive. It is open to all, Gentiles as well as Jews, saints as well as sinners — as long as each one actually does or carries out God’s will (as against those who pay Him mere lip service).

No wonder that it is possible for “tax collectors and prostitutes” (that is, sinners who repent and accept God in their lives) to “overtake” us in the quest for the Kingdom of God. Of course it is not a mad dash to a finish line, to win some sort of medal. Again, what really counts is doing God’s will.

We should not be surprised. Our own complacency and overconfidence can very well be our undoing. Let Jesus’ very words serve as a warning for us: “When John [the Baptizer] came preaching a way of holiness, you put no faith in him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did believe in him. Yet even when you saw that, you did not repent and believe in him.”

We had better repent and believe in God, indeed. The First Reading from the prophet Zephaniah at once challenges us and consoles us — “You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain.”

Having been purified thus, we too set forth to go the vineyard to work — never mind what we might have first answered the Father. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

Am I doing what’s necessary to prepare myself for the Lord’s coming?

 

Lord Jesus, grant me humility of heart to repent of my sins so  that I may be able to joyfully welcome You in my heart.

 

St. Mary di Rosa, Virgin, pray for us.