Time for Action!

There’s always room for improvement.

But improvement requires change.

And generally, we don’t really want change.

When things are going well, or even when they're not.

We adapt to the status quo.

We’re just comfortable enough.

We’re complacent.

We need to feel a certain level of discomfort before we’re ready for change.

It may be that things get suddenly worse.

Or it may be that we finally realize how bad things are.

Or how much better things could be.

That’s true today, and it was true 2000 years ago.

Jesus has some harsh words for the Elders and Pharisees in today’s Gospel.

They’re complacent--too comfortable in their current conditions.

They’re self satisfied.

They’re certain that they’re better than the tax collectors and the prostitutes.

They don’t want to listen to John the Baptist telling them to get ready for God's coming.

And they don’t want to listen to Jesus shake things up

The Good News today is that Jesus shows enormous patience with them.

Even when they won’t listen to him.

Even when they’re actively working against him.

He does use harsh words.

But at the same time, he continues to urge them to change.

To be like that first son; to improve; to convert.
He criticizes them for dragging their feet:

Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.

But he doesn’t give up on them and condemn them.

His very words show that there is still hope for them.

He doesn’t tell them tax collectors and prostitutes are entering and you can’t.

He says tax collectors and prostitutes are entering before you.

We’re not so unlike the Elders and Pharisees in today’s Gospel.

To some extent, we’re all in the rut of our daily routine.

To some extent, we’re all complacent.

So we have this Advent season to help us break out of our ruts.

We have John the Baptist, still urging us to prepare for God's coming.

And Jesus, still urging us to hear God's will and to act on it.

As we prepare to celebrate his first coming at Christmas,

We more importantly prepare to meet him at his next coming.

The final judgment, or more likely our own particular judgment.

Surely each of us can find something more we can do to prepare.
To make things better, do better, be better.

There’s always room for improvement.

Tuesday, 3rd Week of  Advent

Mt 21:28-32      Read this Scripture @usccb.org