From NO to GO: Matthew 21:23-32 - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

²³When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
  ²⁸“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” (NRSV)

Kefraya by Jim Budd.  Creative commons image on flickr.

I was thumbing through the pages of one of those novelty gift catalogs that you find in your junk mail, and I came across a selection of “unwelcome mats.”  You had your choice of doormats inscribed with the words “unwelcome”; “get lost”; “go away”; “no, we don’t want any”; and “oh no, not you again.”

I hate to say it, but I have to respect the honesty of anyone who would lay one of these at their front door.  I can’t say that I’m particularly welcoming of door-to-door salespersons and people trying to change my religion.  Why should my doormat say something about me that isn’t true?

All the time, I say things like: “Let me know if there’s anything I can do...” “We should get together sometime...”  “That’s a great idea and you have my support.”  Trouble is, I don’t follow through.  So what does it say about me that I make false promises?

The same thing happens in the brief parable Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel. 

A man has two sons.  He goes to the first and says, “go and work in the vineyard today.”  He answers “No, I will not”; but later changes his mind and goes.  The man goes to his second son and says the same.  He answers, “I will go”; but he doesn’t go.

I’m sure that both sons had commitments other than their father’s vineyard.  Perhaps they had families of their own.  Maybe they were just exhausted.  When the second son said “yes, I’ll go,” he probably meant well.  He might have had every intention of going…

If there’s one thing for which I need forgiveness, it’s for all the times I’ve made promises I’ve failed to keep.  It’s so easy to say “yes” and tell people what they want to hear, only later to justify your failure to follow through because “I’m busy” or “I didn’t get around to it.”  Realistically, there’s always more to do than can ever be done.  You can’t be everything to everyone.  And God knows this.

But you and I have the absolute ability to choose our commitments—just like the two sons. Something or someone has authority over how you live your life—and the choices you make.  Most of the time, you choose without even thinking about it...

Our lives are full of distractions, thanks to modern technologies.  Smartphones have replaced interpersonal conversations.  Television, music, and movies pervert your understanding of what’s right and wrong.  Advertisers tell you that you need to buy their stuff to be happy.  The 24-hour cable news cycle sensationalizes violence, breeds fear, stokes you anger, and reinforces your biases instead of simply reporting the facts.  Yet you and I are free to choose these things or reject them.  You must ask, “who or what is calling the shots here?”

Yet regardless of whether you say no to Jesus or just fail to follow through, his invitation to you stands.  This isn’t about earning your salvation through good works.  This is an invitation into the life-giving work of God’s kingdom.  This is an invitation to the things that truly matter to God.

When Jesus bids you to come, he’s not promising you wealth, recognition, or control.  He’s promising you death and resurrection.  You’re sacrificing your wants to the needs of others.  You’re forsaking comfort, convenience, and gratification.  You’re facing your fears and taking risks.  You’re giving yourself into labors for which you cannot see or control the outcome.  You’re making promises that aren’t necessarily easy to keep.  And it’s always easier to reject Jesus than anything or anyone else.

This leads us back to the first son who declines his father’s invitation—then goes.  When Jesus invites you into his kingdom, he doesn’t make it easy to say “no.”  Jesus wants you in his kingdom.  He has the power to turn your “no” into a “yes.”

So consider, then, what a life of Christian discipleship really is, and ask: “what is Jesus inviting me into that I’m saying ‘no’?”  What is it that you can never see yourself doing for Jesus?  Who do you need to forgive—and ask forgiveness?  What is it that you know you should be doing—but you’re putting off, like coming to bible study; taking on a leadership role here at church; or giving more of your financial resources?  Because you don’t have the time, the energy, the skill, or the strength?

Very often, you will find that new life lies just beyond the commitments you don’t want to make or seem unable to keep. 

I say, that if you’re going to say “no” to Jesus, make it a big NO—because then you’re being honest with yourself and with Jesus, which is where repentance begins.  Jesus will take that “no” and transform it into “go.”

Today is a new day and the future’s open wide.  You belong in God’s family.  You belong in God’s kingdom.  You’ve tried the rest, now trust Jesus to show you the rest.