THE ENDGAME MATTERS
Ezekiel 18:25-28; Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5; Matthew 21:28-32
The 1984 French Open final. The legendary John McEnroe arrived on court that day amid a 42-match winning streak. He raced to a two-set lead with his usual aggressive style that seemed destined to turn the match into a rout. Then Lendl broke him in the sixth game of the third set and the match turned around. McEnroe’s last shot was a potentially easy volley that he tiredly knocked out of court; it seemed to symbolize the steady decay of his game.
McEnroe’s 42 prior wins did not matter; his amazing display till then counted for nothing. The endgame mattered, and he could not deliver.
What is true of sport is true of life and the spiritual life: the endgame matters.
In the gospel parable of the two sons, Jesus compares “tax collectors and prostitutes” (whom the religious elders considered transgressors of the law) to the first son; they rebelled initially but heeded John’s exhortation and repented. Jesus is emphatic that they “are entering the kingdom of God”. The chief priests and elders are like the second son; they professed to do to do God’s will but did not. Jesus implies that they will be left out of the kingdom if they fail to repent.
This seems outrageous! But the first reading from Ezekiel emphasises that, for God, the end matters: A person may turn at any time from wickedness to righteousness and vice versa; s/he will be judged by the new life to which s/he has turned, not by his/her previous life.
God has a very short memory! He is concerned about our present relationship with him. Further, no matter how far we have strayed from him, it is never too late to turn back to a no-questions-asked welcome. Remember the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, the thief crucified with Jesus! God’s kingdom is for those who answer his call today; yesterday does not count.
Like which son am I? Do my actions indicate my obedience to God’s will? Am I ready to change my attitudes and behaviour?
The challenge is to be like the third son, Jesus, who was always faithful. St Paul reminds us: “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus, who… humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death.”
No comments:
Post a Comment