Parable of the Two Sons, Work in My Vineyard – Dec 16 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 16, 2025, where he explains the Parable of the Two Sons from Matthew 21, highlighting how true repentance leads to action in God's vineyard, while superficial faith falls short.

Father unpacks today's Gospel from Matthew 21, where Jesus confronts the chief priests and elders, who dodged questions about John the Baptist, by sharing the Parable of the Two Sons. The vineyard owner is God the Father, and the vineyard symbolizes faithful works of righteousness, echoing Jesus as the true vine in John 15:1 and John 15:5. Vineyards in Scripture, like in Jeremiah 35, represent divine blessing, with the fruit—wine from Psalm 104:15—signifying spiritual graces flowing through the Church. God daily invites us, as in Matthew 21:28, to unite our will to His, keep commandments, repent, and follow Jesus by denying self and taking up our cross (Luke 9:23). The first son, initially defiant but repentant, mirrors sinners like tax collectors and prostitutes who heeded John's call. The second son, verbally obedient yet disobedient, embodies hypocrites who honor God with lips but not heart (Isaiah 29:13), as Jesus questions in Luke 6:46. Father notes the irony: notorious sinners embraced repentance, while leaders rejected John and Jesus. He urges us not to fear evangelizing grave sinners, who may surprise us with conversions, and to heed God's morning call to cultivate virtue in our souls—patience, humility, charity—avoiding self-righteousness. This work extends to daily life, honoring Christ as Catholics.

Matthew 21 - Parable of Two Sons - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/21
John 15:1 - Jesus as true vine - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?1
Jeremiah 35 - Vineyard divine judgment - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/35
Psalm 104:15 - Wine gladdens hearts - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/104?15
Luke 9:23 - Deny self, take up the cross - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?23
Isaiah 29:13 - Lips honor not heart - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/29?13
Luke 6:46 - Call Lord but obey - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6?46
CCC 1427-1439 - Repentance transforms sinners' hearts - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm#III
CCC 1804 - Prudence guides virtuous actions - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a7.htm#1804

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday in the 3rd Week in Advent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121625.cfm
1st: zep 3:1-2, 9-13
Resp: psa 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23
Gsp: mat 21:28-32

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1286

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