Not only people, but also words can be appealing or unappealing to us. Think, for example, of “yes” and “no.” For many people, “yes” is more valued than “no.” We are happy when someone says yes to us because we are not yet thinking about its fruit.
Jesus’ Perspective
Jesus knew that saying “yes” or “no” does not, by itself, mean very much. Not everyone who quickly said yes to his message about the Kingdom of God could consider themselves justified. Nor did everyone who observed the commandments automatically receive Jesus’ approval.
We experience this in everyday life as well. Political parties make promises, but after the election, not all of those promises can actually be put into practice. The real question is: How reliable is my word? And this has nothing to do with a person’s profession. It is a personal quality. A person may be a journalist, politician, businessperson, or neighbor. Once he is reliable, we consider him a blessing.
Moreover, Jesus did not reject those who said “no.” He even associated himself with those who said no—the sinners. This does not mean that he justified everything they thought or did.
What matters is that we see what lies behind a “yes” and what lies behind a “no.”
What Lies Behind a “No” — and Behind a “Yes”?
Often, the question is whether I can trust someone. This is clear in today’s Gospel.
Jesus is in Jerusalem for Passover, and many are waiting to see what will happen to him. They have witnessed his many healings, and been moved by his words and presence. Yet the authorities remain opposed to him.
Everything revolves around this one question: Will the authorities recognize his mission? Will they join him and put their trust in him? Will they believe him? It is time to make a decision!
Jesus makes this clear through the story of the two sons: If you say “yes” to me, then do what follows from that “yes.”
The Golden Bridge from “No” to “Yes”
Jesus is saying to the chief priests and elders: It is not too late. You have said “no,” but you can still repent and say “yes” to me.
The remarkable point in this story is this: What does Jesus expect of us? That we believe in him.
We can ask ourselves today: Where do I say that I believe in God, but fail to trust him when life becomes difficult? Where do I say “yes” to forgiveness, but continue to hold on to resentment? Where do I say “yes” to faith, but never allow my faith to shape the way I live?
The question is not only what we say, but what our lives reveal about our faith. What helps us move from “no” to “yes” is the realization that we cannot live by “no” alone. Saying yes to God opens us to saying yes to life, to ourselves, to our fellow human beings, and to the community of faith. Our faith becomes visible when our words and actions begin to point in the same direction before God and others alike.
[Readings: Ezekiel 18:25–28; Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 21:28–32]
