In
this morning's Gospel after bluntly refusing his father’s request to
work in the vineyard, the first son changes his mind and joins the others
in the vineyard. What happened? Why did he change his mind? It was because of
an encounter, or rather a series of encounters: with his conscience, with
community, and with his father.
Conversion of
heart always begins with some kind of encounter. The father’s request: “Son, go
out and work in the vineyard today,” triggers the son’s first encounter – with
his conscience. You know it well: that inner voice that tells us “to love and
to do good and to avoid evil.” Imagine the encounter going something like this
– Conscience: “You know the commandment: honor your father. You just dishonored
him.” Son: “Don’t start lecturing me.” Conscience: “You do this, and should I
keep silence?” Son (muttering to himself): “Oh, just go away.” But conscience
won’t go away. It remains even if we try to muffle it – that’s its nature: it
must witness to the truth. When we do good, it multiplies our peace; when we do
evil it demands we set things right and holds out the hope of mercy.
The parable
continues with the son’s next encounter – with community. He leaves behind his
own will and isolation in a kind of self-emptying and joins the others in
the vineyard. He enters a little community where there is a shared purpose and
a shared work to perform, a mission, even if a humble one. He is dependent on
others. He must be there for others. He learns the meaning of encounter because
he has to live and work with others. This little community will stretch his
heart, which is what conversion is all about.
Finally, the
son comes full circle and encounters his father, who presumably comes to the
vineyard at some point. The son had finally done the father’s will, but not
without some pain. That is the way it is sometimes, especially for men. We don’t
immediately see any good in the requests made by our fathers, and the same goes
for our monastic superiors. But as we mature, we begin to see things
differently. We realize that behind their requests, God had opened a door for
us. We begin to see that going out into the vineyard is really an opportunity
for a gift of self, which is a form of love.
Excerpts from
Father Vincent's Sunday homily.
