Readings: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 / Matthew 21:28-32
Reflection
Jesus tells a parable about two
children and their father's simple request: "Go work in the vineyard
today." The first child refuses outright, "I will not” but something
stirs in their heart. Regret. Conviction. Maybe shame. Whatever it is, it moves
them from refusal to obedience. They go to the vineyard. The second child
responds beautifully, "Yes, sir, I will go” but never moves. The words
sound perfect. The intention seems genuine. But when the sun sets, only one
child is in the vineyard with soil on their hands and work completed. Jesus
asks the question that pierces every comfortable soul: "Which of the two
did the father's will?" The answer is obvious, but the implications are
devastating. Then comes the truth that must have shocked everyone: "Tax
collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you."
Not because they lived better lives, but because when John called them to
genuine repentance, they actually changed. They moved. Their faith became
action. Meanwhile, the religious leaders had perfected the art of beautiful
words without movement, promises without transformation, knowledge without
love.
Zephaniah prophesied this exact
pattern centuries earlier: a city that refuses correction, refuses to trust,
refuses to draw near to God despite all its religious activity. "Woe to
the city, rebellious and polluted!" But embedded in the warning is a
promise: God will preserve "a people humble and lowly, who shall take
refuge in the name of the Lord." These aren't the ones who look most
religious. They're the ones honest enough to know they need refuge. The tax
collectors who finally admitted their greed was killing them. The prostitutes
who recognized their emptiness and longed for something real. The first child
who said no but then couldn't shake the conviction and went to work. These are
the ones entering the Kingdom first, not because they're morally superior, but
because they let their faith move them. They let conviction become action. They
let God's word transform them instead of just informing them. The tragedy isn't
that some people start far from God. The tragedy is that some people spend
their whole lives close to religious activity but never close to God Himself.
Here's the beautiful and terrifying
truth: God isn't keeping score of who said the right words or who looked the
most obedient. He's looking at the vineyard. Who actually showed up? Who let
their faith produce fruit? Who allowed conviction to become transformation? You
can know every prayer, attend every Mass, follow every rule, and still be
standing outside the vineyard making excuses. Or you can be a complete mess
who's failed God a thousand times, finally get honest about it, and walk into
the Kingdom with dirt under your nails and joy in your heart. John the Baptist
preached one message that changed everything: true repentance. Real change.
Authentic transformation. Some heard it and thought they were already good
enough. Others heard it and thought they were finally being offered what they
desperately needed. One group kept performing. One group started transforming.
And Jesus makes it clear, God isn't impressed with our words or our religious
resumés. He's moved by hearts that are willing to be moved by Him. The question
isn't whether you've ever said no to God. We all have. The question is: when
your heart is convicted, do you move? When God calls, do you go? When faith
demands action, do you respond? Because at the end of the day, the Father
doesn't judge by what we promise. He sees who actually shows up in His
vineyard.
Franciscan
Reflection
Francis understood this parable in his
bones. He initially said no to God's call; he wanted wealth, glory, knighthood, and comfort. But when he encountered Christ in the leper, when he heard God say,
"Rebuild my church," something moved in Francis. He didn't just feel
convicted. He let conviction move him. He went to the vineyard, literally
rebuilding San Damiano stone by stone, then rebuilding the Church heart by
heart. Francis never claimed to have perfect words or flawless theology. He
just went. He moved. He let his faith produce fruit. And centuries later, we're
still talking about the little poor man from Assisi who said yes with his life,
not just his lips. Where is God asking you to move? What conviction have you
been carrying that needs to become action?
For
Your Reflection
Take your time. Pay attention to the
ones that make you stir.
About the Two Kids:
- If you're honest, which kid are you most of the
time? The one who says no but goes, or yes but stays?
- Where in your life are your words to God not
matching your actions?
- What promise have you made to God that's still
just words?
About Repentance:
- The "sinners" who actually changed are
entering the Kingdom first. What needs to actually change in your life,
not just be talked about?
- Are you more focused on looking righteous or being
transformed?
- Where are you refusing to let God correct you
because you think you're already good enough?
About the Vineyard:
- God's Kingdom work is the vineyard. Where is God
asking you to actually show up and work?
- What religious activity are you hiding behind
instead of doing real Kingdom work?
- Have you said yes to God's call but never actually
gone? What is keeping you at home and away from God?
About Honesty:
- The tax collectors and prostitutes knew they
needed to change. Do you know you need to change, or do you think you're
basically fine?
- What would it cost you to stop performing
righteousness and start living it?
- Are you humble enough to admit you might be the
second kid?
Praying
the Sorrowful Mysteries
As you pray the rosary today, see
Jesus actually going while others just talked:
The Agony in the Garden - Jesus says yes to the Father's will with His whole
being. Not just words. Sweat and blood.
The Scourging - The religious leaders said yes to God, but scourged His
Son. Perfect words. Zero follow-through.
The Crown of Thorns - They mocked Him as king while He was actually becoming
King. They talked. He bled.
Carrying the Cross - Jesus didn't just preach about obedience. He carried it
up a hill. All the way.
The Crucifixion - "It is finished." Jesus completed the work. He
didn't just promise to go to the vineyard. He went. And it killed Him. And it
saved us.
The Sorrowful Mysteries show us the
ultimate first kid, Jesus said yes to the Father and actually went, even when
it cost Him everything. That's what real obedience looks like.
A
Quiet Challenge
This week, stop making promises you
won't keep. God doesn't need your impressive words. He needs your actual
obedience.
Pick one thing, just one, that you
know God's been asking you to do. Not something religious and comfortable.
Something real. Forgive that person. Have that hard conversation. Change that
habit. Tangibly serve someone. Actually, pray instead of just thinking
about praying.
Stop saying "Yes, Lord" with
your mouth while your feet stay planted at home. Either say no honestly and
deal with it, or say yes and actually get in the vineyard.
The tax collectors and prostitutes are
ahead of you in line. Not because they never messed up. Because they stopped
lying about whether they were going to show up.
Talk is cheap. The vineyard is
waiting.
Closing
Pray this with brutal honesty:
"Father, I've been the second kid
way too often. I've said yes with my mouth while saying no with my life. I've
made promises I haven't kept. I've perfected religious vocabulary while
avoiding Kingdom work. I've looked obedient while staying comfortably
disobedient. Forgive me. I don't want to be the one who talks about the
vineyard while Your work goes undone. Give me the honesty of the tax collectors
who knew they were a mess. Give me the courage of the prostitutes who actually
repented. Give me the humility to admit I've been polishing my 'Yes, sir' while
never moving my feet. And then give me the guts to actually go. To move. To
obey. Not tomorrow. Today. Send me to Your vineyard. I'm going this time. I
promise. And this time I mean it. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Then ask:
- Where am I saying yes to God with words but no
with actions?
- What do I actually need to do instead of just talking
about it?
- Am I willing to be honest about being the second
kid?
Which kid did the father's will? The
one who went. Not the one who talked about going. Not the one who had a great
excuse. The one who showed up with dirt under their nails.
Stop talking. Go to the vineyard. The
grapes need you.
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
December 16, 2025
A Franciscan Reflection
©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
