A disturbing message

There is a  sharp, focused and disturbing message that comes across clearly in most of the parables of Jesus.

Many of the parables of Jesus have two groups of people. There is the first group for whom everything goes well. They are the close friends of the master, they work hard the whole day in the vineyard and in the field, they don’t wander far  from home but stay close to the father, they go right up to the altar and pray with uplifted hands, they say ‘yes’ when father requests  them to work in the field.

There is a second group for whom everything seems to go wrong. They live in the lanes and by lanes, they are lazy and report for work at the eleventh hour, they take risks and wander in far away countries wasting the father’s property, they come close to the church door but don’t enter in,  they rebel and say ‘no’ to their father’s request.

What is impressive  about the first group is their virtues: They are hardworking, and chaste, they stay close to the altar, they are friends of the master, they  say ’yes’ to the father’s request, they pray with uplifted hands, they are punctual, dedicated, chaste, sacrificing, obedient. They are not thieves, they are not adulterers. Everything seems to go well with them. They are friends of the master, they are respected, they are held in high esteem by people. These could very well be considered candidates for Canonization!

  What is evident about the second group is their sins: They are disobedient, they rebel,  they wander, they are lazy, they are thieves, rogues, and adulterers. Their friends their families, society and they themselves know their sins.

What is shocking is the conclusion of these parables. The good ones turn out to be the grumblers, unhappy, resentful, jealous, angry and refusing to go inside the house. Instead, the rebellious  ones are celebrating at home, they are happy and contented. While the rebellious son who wandered far is celebrating inside the house,  the hardworking obedient elder son is in the servant’s quarters refusing to go in. The lazy ones who reported at the eleventh hour for work are going home whistling and singing while the hard-working ones are bitter and angry. Those from the lanes and by lanes are in the banqueting hall celebrating, while the close friends of the master are outside busy with  fields and bulls and wives. While the rebellious ’no’ son repented and did  the father’s will the ‘yes’ son refuse to do what the father wanted. The sinner near the door of the temple goes home sanctified while the Priest in the sanctuary  goes home satisfied.

What message has these parables for us who are good Christians, Priests or Religious? To which group do we belong? We are often  hardworking, staying close to the altar, presbytery bound, never seriously disobeyed authorities, mostly chaste, have said ‘yes’ to the father’s request.

These parables offer a message of hope and forgiveness to those who have wandered far. At the same time, it is a warning and a challenge to those who consider themselves ‘good’ and ‘holy’. It is better to be a sinner who repents than a ‘saint’ who counts his virtues and condemns others' failures. It is s better to live in the lanes and by lanes and accept the invitation and  attend the wedding banquet than to be friends of the master and take his invitation for granted and be busy with buying, accounting, and building. It is better to say ‘no’ and repent and do the father’s will than be the ‘yes’ sons and daughters  and never do what the father wants. It is better to wander and come back home and celebrate with the father than to be at home and never know the father. 

-        Fr TVGeorge sdb