I Will Go, Lord

Dear brothers and sisters, the Word of God this Sunday reminds us that it is not enough to say we believe in God; we must show it by the way we live. God always gives us the opportunity to change, to return to Him, and to do His will.

The prophet Ezekiel presents us with a God who is both just and merciful. The one who has turned away from the right path can still change and return to God. This reminds us that our past does not have the final word. We can always begin again. God looks at our heart and at our decision to change.

The psalmist teaches us to pray: “Teach me, your paths.” This should also be our daily prayer. We do not always know which path to take. That is why we need to ask the Lord to show us His way and to give us the humility to follow it.

Saint Paul, in the second reading, invites us to live in unity, humility, and service. He presents Jesus as our model: Christ humbled Himself and gave Himself for us. The Christian life is not about seeking to be more important than others, but about learning from Jesus to serve and to place the good of our brothers and sisters before our own interests.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a father who asks his two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first says “no,” but later has a change of heart and goes. The second says “yes,” but in the end does not go.

Jesus helps us see that God does not look only at our words, but at our actions. We may say “yes” to God many times: when we pray, when we participate in the life of the Church, when we speak about our faith. But the important question is this: are we truly living what we say we believe?

The first son shows us that change is always possible. At first, he said no, but later he reflected and went. This is an invitation not to lose hope because of our weaknesses. We may make mistakes and drift away, but the door to return always remains open.

The second son shows us another danger: saying yes with our lips, but not with our lives. That is why the question Jesus leaves us is simple and direct: which of the two sons am I?

We can also ask ourselves: Does my “yes” to God show in the way I treat others? Does it show in my service? In my willingness to forgive? In my concern for those who suffer? Today the Lord invites us to move from words to deeds, from good intentions to a concrete life of faith. And when we realize that we have failed, let us not be afraid to begin again.

Brothers and sisters, let us ask the Lord for a humble and sincere heart. May our “yes” to God not remain only in words, but be made visible each day in love, service, and mercy. And let us repeat with trust: “Teach us, your paths.” Amen.