Holiness takes work. Jesus’s parable in this Sunday’s Gospel asks each of us to “go out and work in the vineyard today.” I have never worked in a vineyard but that sounds difficult. And that’s exactly how the father’s sons respond, too. The first son gives a quick “yes” only to choose not to follow through. It reminds me of St. Augustine’s prayer when he was young: “Lord, make me a saint – but not yet!” Holiness is not a lightswitch. We don’t turn it on simply by saying “yes.” We have to grow in it, and growth takes work. The second son recognizes the difficulty of growing. Almost like an annoying gnat, he dwells on his “no” and ends up choosing to go to the vineyard. He may not feel like working that day, but he still chooses to work. He chooses to grow in holiness.
For most of us, holiness is cultivated in these daily choices. St. Therese of Lisieux tells us that holiness is doing little things with great love. We can do the dishes. We can honor our spouse. We can make wise business decisions. We can choose to do our jobs the right way instead of just the easy way. We can strive for the common good of everyone. We can wake up at 2am again to comfort our baby. The second son chooses the vineyard. The tax collectors choose to believe John the Baptist. Jesus chooses the Cross. What vineyard is God calling each of us to? Family? Occupation? Neighborhood? Even the grocery store?
The final word of the father’s question to his sons stands out to me: “today.” Forget about the successes or failures of the past. Do not worry about tomorrow. God is calling each of us to the work of holiness today. How do we choose to respond?
- Cam Clutter, Pastoral Assistant