Ezek. 18:25-8; Phil. 2:1-11; Mt. 21:28-32
Zen stories are wonderful stories with deep insight. There is Zen story about the master Bankei. His talks were attended not only by Zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. Once a self-centered Nichiren priest came to the temple, determined to debate with Bankei. When he saw that a audience was attracted by the Master, Anger and jealousy took over him. He went to the master and challenged him:
“Hey, teacher!" he called out. "Wait a minute. Whoever respects you will obey what
you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?”
you say, but a man like myself does not respect you. Can you make me obey you?”
The Master's peace and strength of mind and heart was least affected by any disrespect shown to them. He accepted the challenge and said:
” Come up beside me and I will show you.”
Proudly the priest pushed his way through the crowd to the teacher.
Bankei smiled. "Come over to my left side.”
The priest obeyed.
“No," said Bankei, "we may talk better if you are on the right side. Step over here.”
The priest proudly stepped over to the right.
“You see," observed Bankei, "you are obeying me and I think you are a very gentle person. Now sit down and listen."
During today's reading from the Gospel of Matthew, [Mt. 21:28-32] we heard Jesus tell the story of the man who had two sons. The father asked one of his sons to go and work in the vineyard. His son said that he would not go but he changed his mind and he went. The second son said that he would go but he did not go. The son who promised to go and work in the vineyard, but he did not go, he broke his promise. He was no different than God's chosen people of the Old Testament who broke the Old Covenant. He was no different than the people who listened to the words of Jesus, but ignored them. He was no different than the people within the Church today who break the new Covenant of God by turnings away from His righteous ways.
This passage sets before us a picture of two very imperfect sets of people, of whom one set were none the less better than the other. Neither son in the story was the kind of son to bring full joy to his father. Both were unsatisfactory; but the one who in the end obeyed was incalculably better than the other.
One of the great lessons on obedience is taught in the story of Naaman. Naaman was ―captain of the host of the king of Syria, and a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper‖ (2 Kings 5:1).
One of his wife’s maidens, an Israelite who had great faith and concern for Naaman’s condition, ―said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. (2 Kings 5:3). When the king learned of this, he sent Naaman to the king of Israel with a letter and with gifts, requesting that the king of Israel cure Naaman of his leprosy. He had misunderstood the maiden’s comment and thought that the king of Israel was the one who could cure his ailment. The Israelite king was very upset with this request because he had no power to do such a thing. Yet, he knew if he did not do it, it could mean war with the Syrians. Elisha, the prophet, heard of the king’s distress and suggested, ―Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. ―So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. ―And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean‖ (2 Kings 5:8–10). Naaman being a man of high position was insulted that Elisha would send a messenger and not show him the respect of coming himself. In addition, the simple nature of the message offended him.
So he turned and went away in a rage.
And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he said to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean‖ (2 Kings 5:11–14). Naaman needed to have the faith of a child to be obedient as a child before his flesh became clean as a little child’s.
Today’s Gospel tells us that there are two very common classes of people in this world. First, there are the people whose profession is much better than their practice. They will promise anything. They make great protestations of piety and fidelity. They fight for the rights of the church. They collect together the down trodden to fight for their rights. But, their practices lag behind. Most of us fall into this category. Our processions; our charity; our compassion; our holy rites are only demonstrations without the element of sincerity. The one who has never entered the church stands on the street to condemn the injustices against the church and fight for the rights of the church. The one who has never understood the spirit of Jesus tolerance, comes out with slogans for defending the church. They profess their faith but never practice.
Second, there are those whose practice is far better than their profession. They are fond of doing kind and generous tings, almost in secret. But the real good man is the man in whom profession and practice meet and match.
Further, this parable teaches that promises can never take the place of performance, and fine words are not substitute for fine deeds. The world has many preachers, but it is still looking for performers; The world is keen to have a Florence Nightingale; a Gandhiji or a Mother Theresa.
An old saying goes, “When you make a choice, you also choose the consequence of that choice. Let us choose to obey God’s laws so we can enjoy the fullness of His promised blessings.
Satish