A Reflection 26th Sunday: Is it for Love or Honor?

Is it for Love or Honor?

Ezekiel 18:25-28;  Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14;  Philippians 2:1-11;  Matthew 21:28-32

In the Gospel reading Jesus tells the parable of two sons. They are both asked by their father to go and work in the vineyard. One is asked and says No, but does go and work in the vineyard.  The second son answers “Yes”; but, does not go and work. Jesus asks, which of the two sons, does the father’s will.

The fact that the priests and elders answered correctly is kind of a surprise.

Let us start with a couple of definitions.

The first is honor. The definition of honor is to regard with high respect and esteem, to fulfill an obligation. 

The second definition is love (agape) which is a profoundly generous manifestation of self-donation without concern for reward. 

This parable is about two sons. We will call them love and honor.

If you were to look at this story in the time it was told, the correct answer would probably have been the opposite. In the public square, no son would dishonor his father telling him “No.” In ancient Jewish society honor was expected. The son was to honor his father in his answer. 

The second son was honor. He honored his father by saying “Yes.” He answered with words of high respect and esteem. He gave the answer he was expected to give. Honor prevents his father’s embarrassment; but, honor did not live what he said.

The first son did not honor his father. He embarrassed him by disobeying a direct request. The second son was love. Love gave himself to his father.

The Jewish people lived in a world that commanded them to follow the law and much of it was about honor. The people lived in the world to which the 10 Commandments were given. And, they were about honor.

• I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
• You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain
• Remember to keep holy the LORD's Day.

These first three commandments are about honoring the LORD.

• Honor your father and your mother

This commandment states honor as the goal.

• You shall not kill
• You shall not commit adultery
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
• You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
• You shall not covet your neighbor's good

These commandments are all about honoring society and your neighbor. Did you notice there is no mention of love?

Then Jesus begins to point out the greatest commandment - to love God with all that you are and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus took a simple prayer given by Moses and known by everyone who knew the Torah and pointed out the truth behind the 10 commandments.

Those, who followed Jesus, knew this teaching and knew the correct answer to his parable. 

It was love that was more important. It was the love of the first son that truly honored his father. It was the first son who loved and honored his father by doing his will, just as Jesus would do. Love is so much stronger than honor.

Let us take this parable to our lives as Catholics and let us take it to the Eucharist.

When Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the last supper, Jesus said this bread is my body, this cup is my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. Do this in memory of me.

We are told this in all the gospels and in many of the epistles. It is what the Church teaches us.

In honor, I can pull a wafer or cracker from a box, pour a cup of wine.  Using these symbols, a lot of Christians say that I honor Christ’s words. Remember that to honor something means to show respect and fulfill an obligation. Like the unconsecrated wafer and wine, honor can be just a symbol. Like the second son, we don’t have to live it. It is only a show of respect.

But as a Catholic, we know there is more. The bread and that wine is offered on the altar of God. It is not simply blessed. It is transubstantiated. It changes. 

The priest is given the authority through the apostles from Christ Jesus, consecrates the host by his prayers. The priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s body. It is not human flesh. It is not human blood. It is the divine resurrected Christ that we share.

Maybe some of us are like the first son. Sometime in our life we have said, “No” to Christ’s call. We are sinners. But, our love brings us back and we give ourselves totally.

Maybe some of us are like the second son. We've always said “Yes.” We honor the words and what we have been taught. We show respect, doing what we are expected to do. But not really believing the words we speak. 

Love or Honor, which son are you?