My Dear People,

From the book of Ezekiel, we learn the importance of repentance and a willingness to change our lives and make a firm resolution not to sin again. If an individual who led a life of sin repents, that is “if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, he does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins he has committed, he shall surely live and, he shall not die.”

The prophets like Ezekiel represent the word of God to the people, and one important point which they mention often is that they tell the people that God wants them to repent and to turn from their sinful ways. In Israel they were worshipping pagan gods, they were warned, and they did not heed the message. Eventually they were occupied by Assyria, and they were dispersed into other lands. To this day, no one knows where the ten tribes of Israel are. No matter how many sins one has committed and how grave those sins were, when one repents and he is sorry for his sins, and he commits to change his life, he is fulfilling God’s will and he is in the grace of God. No matter what sins he has committed, if he repents, he will be forgiven. This is to show how great is the love and mercy of God, and God wants to extend his love and mercy to all people. God does not rejoice in the condemnation of anyone. It is the deeds that make a difference, especially the deeds of the individual after he has repented, then these deeds make a difference because they are the deeds that God wants.

The council of Trent “declares that contrition encompasses not only the end of sin and the beginning of new life, but the reparation of the old, sinful life, as it was written: Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! (Ezek. 18:31)” (Council of Trent, Session 14,4).

In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of repentance and turning from evil ways and doing the will of God. Jesus speaks of the first son who did his father’s will. Even the chief priests and elders recognize that. But what Jesus says next would have utterly dumbfounded them. Jesus tells them that the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before you. Tax collectors and prostitutes were considered to be at the bottom of the socioreligious scale and outside God’s covenant—the kind of people the chief priests and elders looked down on the most. Yet, like the first son, these notorious sinners, who rebelled initially, repented when they heard the exhortation of John the Baptist. That Jesus would say these sinful outsiders will enter the Kingdom of God before the chief priests and elders would have been completely astounding—and offensive.

At the same time, Jesus links the chief priests and elders with the second son. They had the law, and by taking office they affirmed that they would do God’s will. But when God sent his prophet John the Baptist calling all to repent, they did not believe him. They will find themselves watching the sinners enter God’s kingdom before them. It is implied that if they fail to repent, they will be left out of the kingdom (8:11-22).

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente