Sunday, September 27, 2026

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents us with a simple parable about two sons. Their father asks each of them to go and work in his vineyard. The first refuses, but later changes his mind and goes. The second politely says that he will go, but never does. Jesus then asks the obvious question: Which of the two actually did the father’s will? The answer is the first son. Although his initial response was wrong, he reconsidered, changed his heart, and acted.

This little parable contains a powerful lesson about the Christian life. God is not interested merely in what we say; He desires the conversion of our hearts and the faithful response of our lives. It is possible to say all the right things, profess our faith, attend Mass, and call ourselves followers of Christ, while failing to allow that faith to shape the way we actually live. Jesus challenges us to make certain that our actions correspond to the faith we profess.

At the same time, today’s readings offer tremendous hope. The first son initially said “no” but that was not the end of his story. He changed his mind and went into the vineyard. Likewise, through the prophet Ezekiel, God reminds His people that the person who turns away from sin and chooses what is right shall live.

That is the beauty of repentance. Our past does not have to determine our future. Perhaps there have been times when God called and we refused, times when we have neglected prayer, held onto resentment, ignored someone in need, or simply grown complacent in our faith. God continues to call us back. What matters is what we do with His invitation today.

Every one of us has been invited into the Father’s vineyard. There is work there for each of us: within our families, our parish, our workplaces, our neighborhoods. The question Jesus places before us this Sunday is wonderfully simple: Will out lives match our words? Even if yesterday we said “no”, today God gives us another opportunity to say “yes”–not only with our lips, but with the way we live.