THE PARABLE OF THE two sons has been played out across the centuries, both before Jesus, and after, in your lives and mine. Have you ever been asked to do something, agreed, and then immediately regretted your “yes”? Or said “no,” then reconsidered, did what was asked, but remained angry while doing it? The truth is that we often respond imperfectly—even to God. There can be a mismatch between what we say and what we do.
Years ago, when I was in sixth grade, my brother and I were invited to my classmate Daniel’s birthday party. Daniel was different, to say the least. He had a large frame and the voice of an old man; he wasn’t athletic or a good student; He was more like Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird; he was a target for many at school. Daniel’s mother called my mother and invited my brother and me to the party. My brother said “yes,” but I wanted nothing to do with it. I knew few, if any, other classmates would be going. My brother eventually backed out, while I, torn by guilt, begrudgingly went with Daniel, his sister Margaret, and his mother to play miniature golf. Game over, party over, obligation completed. But the truth is, I had done a good deed…badly.
In Jesus’ parable, the father asked both sons to work in the vineyard. One says “no” but later goes. The other says “yes” but does not go. Jesus asked which son did his father’s will, and the disciples answer: “The first.”
Jesus points to tax collectors and prostitutes- people who had initially said “no” to God, but, through repentance and humility, changed direction and entered the Kingdom. Have we said “yes” to God but failed to follow through? Have we said “no” but later found ourselves drawn back to His will? Jesus reminds us that it’s never too late to change direction. No one is too far gone for God to call back. Obedience is proven not in what we promise, but in what we practice; promising less and doing the more; the difference between spoken piety and obedient action. What matters is how we finish, not simply where we start. Our words
and intentions are seeds, but they must be watered by action. We can speak holy words and think pious thoughts yet fail to enter the vineyard and do the work He asks of us. And our inaction has consequences. When one son fails to show up, the other must carry more of the burden. We know this in our own families, friendships, workplace and communities. Relationships become strained when one person is always a “doer” and another a “taker.” There are real repercussions from inaction, and real rewards for conversion.
There is another dimension: not simply whether we enter the vineyard, but how and why we work once we are there. We can spoil a good deed through resentment, self-righteousness or a lack of graciousness. God wants more than our compliance; He wants our fidelity, our hearts. As the AA 12- step saying goes: “Bring the body, the heart will follow.” Although our labor often begins by struggling to do what is right, especially when difficult or when we don’t feel like it, it provides an opportunity for our hearts to eventually catch up.
Only Jesus is the perfect Son who says “yes” to the Father and fulfills that “yes” completely. So, can we imitate Jesus by conforming our free will to God’s will? Can we move from holy words and thoughts to true obedience through action? When God calls us into the vineyard, may we do more than simply show up. May we bring changed hearts.
And Daniel, wherever you are: I apologize.