“GO AND WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD.”

Matthew 21:28-32

In today’s Gospel, a father approaches his two sons and says: “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” The first son answers, “I will not,” but later changes his mind and goes. The second says, “Yes, sir,” but never goes. Then Jesus asks: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They answer correctly: “The first.”

The parable is striking because Jesus makes his listeners judge the situation themselves. They give the right answer—and, without realizing it, they condemn their own behavior. St. John Chrysostom explains that Jesus was exposing their stubbornness: they honored God with words, but their actions contradicted their promises.

The vineyard is God’s work, and the invitation is addressed to every person. God does not merely ask us to speak about faith; he asks us to enter the vineyard and work. That work takes place in our ordinary lives: in our families, our marriages, our workplaces, our parish, our relationships and our daily responsibilities.

The command is simple: “Go and work today.”

That word today is important. God gives us the present moment as the time of grace. We do not need to wait until life becomes easier, until we have more time, or until we become perfect. The vineyard is already before us. The person who needs forgiveness is already near us. The good that must be done can begin today.

Today is the day to forgive. Today is the day to pray. Today is the day to stop postponing the good we know God is asking of us.

To work in God’s vineyard means to do what is right: to love, to serve, to forgive, to protect the vulnerable, to speak truthfully, and to live according to God’s will. As St. Thomas Aquinas explains, the vineyard represents justice, and working in it means performing works of justice.

None of us can cultivate the entire vineyard alone. We are not responsible for everything, but we are responsible for our particular place in it. A parent has a mission in the family. A spouse has a mission in marriage. A worker has a mission in the workplace. A parishioner has a mission in the Christian community. Each of us must ask: What is God asking me to do today?

The first son says, “I will not.” His answer is honest, but it is wrong. Yet he does not remain trapped in his refusal. He changed his mind. This is repentance: not simply feeling sorry, but turning around and doing what is good.

The Fathers interpreted this son as representing those who were distant from God but later repented and obeyed. The Gentiles, who had not received the Law, nevertheless responded to God through conscience and reason; later, many accepted Christ and entered the Lord’s vineyard.

This gives us great hope. A bad beginning does not have to determine the end of our story.

Perhaps someone has said “no” to God through years of sin, neglect, resentment, or indifference. Perhaps someone has resisted forgiveness, avoided prayer, or postponed conversion. But the Gospel tells us that it is never too late to change direction. The first son did not allow his earlier refusal to become his final answer. Your previous refusal does not have to be your final answer.

The second son, however, says all the right words: “I go, sir.” But he does not go. His obedience remains only a promise. He represents those who speak religiously, appear faithful, and make impressive commitments, but do not allow God’s word to change their lives. As St. John Chrysostom observes, Jesus exposes the difference between those who merely hear the Law and those who actually obey it.

The second son, however, teaches us a sobering lesson. It is possible to say all the right words and still refuse God in practice. We can say “yes” at Mass, in our prayers, or in our promises, while saying “no” through resentment, dishonesty, impurity, pride, or indifference.

As Pope St. John Paul II observed, God is not satisfied with words; he seeks an actual commitment. Each person is called to become actively involved in the Lord’s vineyard.

Therefore, the question is not merely, “What have I promised God?” The deeper question is: Am I doing the Father’s will today?

Pope Benedict XVI warned against a faith that becomes merely routine faith that leaves the heart untouched. He also reminded us that Christian service must be more than technical or external work; it must be filled with the love of Christ, it must flow from a heart touched by Christ’s love.

Jesus directs this message to the chief priests and elders of the people of Israel. At first they say “yes” to God’s will, but their piety becomes routine and God no longer matters to them. For this reason they find the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus disturbing.

The message of the parable is clear: it is not words that matter, but deeds, deeds of conversion and faith.

Jesus then says something shocking: “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.”

Jesus’ words about tax collectors and sinners entering the kingdom before the religious leaders are severe, but they are also merciful. Jesus does not approve of sin. He praises repentance. Those who knew they were sinners listened to John the Baptist, believed, and changed their lives. Others saw the same call to conversion but refused to respond.

The lesson is not that sin does not matter. Sin matters greatly. But repentance matters even more than our past. God does not ask whether we have always obeyed perfectly. He asks whether we are willing to obey now.

The Lord does not demand a perfect past. He asks for a faithful response today.

This Gospel therefore asks each of us a personal question: Does my life correspond to what I profess?

It is possible to say “yes” to God with our lips while saying “no” through our choices. But it is also possible to have said “no” in the past and to begin again today. God’s mercy is not exhausted. He waits patiently—not to condemn us, but to restore us.

Behind the two sons we see a third Son: Jesus Christ. He said “yes” to the Father and fulfilled that “yes” completely, even through suffering and the Cross. He is the one who teaches us how to obey, and his grace gives us strength to begin again.

The first son gives us hope: even after saying “no,” we can repent. The second gives us a warning: religious words without obedience remain empty. The third gives us our model: Jesus, who says “yes” and fulfills that “yes” with his whole life.

Today the Father sends us into his vineyard. Let us not offer God empty promises. May our answer not remain only on our lips. May it become a life of repentance, faith, and love. And may others recognize in our service the merciful presence of Christ.

The Father is still calling: “Go and work today in my vineyard.”

✍ Fr. Tojan Abraham  MCBS