26th Sunday of Year A

Ezekiel 18:25-28
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32

Faith comes alive when we live our telos.

This week, we reflect on the topic of perfection. Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48) This is puzzling as it is daunting. For how can we, as mere human, be as perfect as God? The truth is, God does not call us to be flawless. He knows we are fallen beings. We will fail from time to time. We all need forgiveness from time to time – not only forgiveness from God, but also forgiveness from each other. Indeed, we all need God’s mercy. But, what does this leave “perfection”?

In the original Greek text, the term used for “perfect” is telos. Telos does not mean flawless. It means something achieving its intended purpose. It means that if I live my life to the purpose God created me for, I will attain God-like joy and contentment. This is entering into perfection in a fallen world. It is our telos. As an illustration, think of a pen that is created to write. When it writes words of love and encouragement, it is fulfilling the purpose it is created for. This is its telos. On the other hand, if we try to use the pen to knock a nail into a piece of wood, not only is the pen not able to do that, but we will damage the pen in the process. In the same way, if we seek joy in ways that God does not intend us, not only do we not fulfill our real purpose and attain true joy, but we will also damage ourselves and others in the process. Examples of this when people seek joyn through vices such as drugs, alcoholism, compulsive gambling, extra-marital affairs, etc.

In the Gospel this week, we read the Parable of the Two Sons. In the parable, a man asked his two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son said he won’t do it, but after thinking about it, went anyway. The second said he will go but didn’t do it. Jesus then asked the disciples, “‘Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’” (verse 31) Before we condemn the second son, let us remember that many of us are like the second son. We have the intention to live life the way God intends us, to be perfect as God is. In other words, to love like Jesus, serve like Jesus, sacrifice like Jesus, and forgive like Jesus. But we do not do it. Why? There can be many reasons. we may be too busy, too lazy, too greedy, too selfish, too proud, and so on. In rejected God’s calling of us, we are rejecting our telos. We are rejecting God’s calling for us to enter perfection. My brothers and sisters, what vocations and services are God calling me to – as a parent, as a member of my community, in my profession? What am I to do with what He has blessed me with – my wealth, my health, my upbringing, my education and the country I live in? Have I said “Yes” to Him like the second son in the parable. Have I followed up with actions like the first son? This week, the Scripture invites us to reflect: What is stopping me from living out my telos?

For many believers, we are like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. Our walk of faith consists of no more than a list of “obligations”- coming to church every Sunday; performing rituals without understanding the significance of the gestures; saying standard prayers like Our Father and Hail Mary without thinking through the meanings of the words; and so on. This week, Jesus invites us to examine our telos and take it to heart. And what is in our heart, we act it out. In the words of the prophet Ezekiel in the First Reading: “When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life.” (verse 26-27)

My brothers and sisters, whatever the vocations or services God calls us to, there is the underlying calling of love and service. We are created to serve other in self-sacrificial love. St Paul wrote in the Second Reading, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (verse 3-4) Running counter to what the world tells us, it is only through self-sacrificial love that we achieve true joy. This is the paradox of Jesus’ teachings. And Jesus does not teach with empty words. He walked the talk and talked the walk. As St Paul wrote in the Second Reading, “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” (verse 6-8)

My dear friends, Jesus has set us an example to follow. Do not settle for rituals without significance or prayers without understanding. Live out our telos, walk in Jesus’ footsteps, then the rituals and prayers will come alive in us. Otherwise, as Jesus warn us in the Gospel, “the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” (verse 31) May the Holy Spirit walk with us as we contemplate. Amen.