The Two Sons
Gospel Mt 21:28-32
«What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said:
--Son, go and work today in the vineyard.
He answered:
--I will not go.
But later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the second son and said the same thing. He answered:
--I go at once, sir.
But he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?
They replied:
--The first.
Jesus said to them:
--Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.»
NEW CONCEPTS:
Repentance: When a person does something and then realizes they were wrong and chooses to do what is good.
Tax collectors (Publicans): In this context, people perceived as being outside the practice of religion or social norms.
Prostitutes: People who do things that are wrong in exchange for money.
Rewarding God: The concept that God recognizes and responds to the choices we make throughout our lives.
QUESTIONS AND POINTS FOR REFLECTION
| 1. Was the first son's initial answer correct? |
| 2. What might he have thought to make him repent and go to work in the field? |
| 3. Did the second son intend to lie to his father? |
| 4. Why does Jesus accept the answer given by those who were listening? |
| 5. Who was John? |
| 6. Comment on this other phrase by Jesus: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mt 7:21). How is it similar to the parable of the two sons? |