Sin v 1.6

“Today’s Gospel presents to us two sons who are imperfect and tells us that we are one of them. It is only when we own our imperfection and open ourselves to learn from the gifts of others that we can personally and communally do the will of our Father.”

Fr. George Smiga · “Imperfect Sons”

“The seed that was planted needed time to grow. And therein is the awesome beauty of his kingdom, of his grace in our lives, and of a God who will address us tenderly as his children and will wait for us.”

Fr Dermot Morrin · “What Do You Think?”

“Often we find ourselves saying no to God’s mercy, or perhaps just saying not just yet. In these times we need God’s help, and the help of the Church, to see the error of our ways.”

Fr David Rocks · “Show Your Workings”

“It’s possible, then, to get distracted or misled on the way to God. It’s possible even to do the terrible thing of rejecting God and his love. We must never think, however, that it’s too late for repentance, in our own or in other’s cases.”

Fr Peter Hunter · “Never Too Late”

“They felt how they had to struggle to reach, and keep safe, their favoured status. They seem to have little or no understanding of the love in forgiveness. Perhaps love had just ceased to be, in the world they had made and maintained with regulations.”

Fr Duncan Campbell · “Light Shines in Darkness”

“Do we claim to be devout, religious people, who are willing to obey God, while, in fact, refusing to do his will?”

Fr Isidore Clarke · “A Tale of Two Brothers”

“Words can never be a good substitute for deeds. We must constantly examine ourselves. We must try always to fulfil our promises and put our words into action.”

Fr Vincent Darius · “Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say”

“The truth is, that when we are able to admit our faults, when we can own the mistakes that we have made, we are not submitting to defeat and failure. We are, instead, taking the first step toward healing and success.”

Fr. George Smiga

“I don’t think of procrastination as disobedience. But, when I read this Gospel, I, like the Pharisees, am the first son who says yes to God when He puts something on my conscience, but my obedience does not always take priority over what my mind and will see as important.”

Mary Ortwein · “Choosing to Obey”

“we often fall into the temptation of thinking God’s punishment of our sins does not represent the idea of him being a merciful and loving Father”

Fr. Lawrence Obilor · “Stick to your yes”

“God’s vineyard needs our tender pruning and care. God’s people need our “Yes,” not our disregard or narrow-mindedness.”

Ted Miles · “Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time”

“Don’t leave Mass thinking the Gospel wasn’t speaking about you”

John Bergsma · “Is God Fair? Part 2”

“We know the answer. Every time. Every time the Holy Spirit is there, nudging us, and we know what the right thing is, but so many times we choose to do what feels better at the time, so satisfy that desire, that emotion that we are feeling, because we think it will make us feel good.”

Joseph LaCombe · “Choose What Is Right”

“neither son in Jesus’ parable is a particularly good model for how we should respond to God’s invitation to work with him and for him for the building up of the Kingdom of Heaven: one son failed in word and the other in deed. Much better to model our behaviour on Jesus himself”

Fr Nicholas Crowe · “Equality with God?”

“This should be a bit of a warning to us, that it is ok to strive to overcome our mortal sins, but don’t become overly scrupulous over perfection”

Laura Kazlas · “Conversion is a Cooperation With God’s Grace”

“To understand the evil that we live in our world today, it is necessary to reflect on our present reality”

Fr. Paul Masson, MM · “26th Sunday in Ordinary Time”