Suppose you were asked to give a talk to a group of prominent priests and parish council leaders. What message would you give them? How would you present it?
It seems Jesus gave a talk to a group of chief priests and elders (parish council leaders?). Let’s listen to his message and examine his teaching method (Matthew 21:28-32).
“Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: ‘What is your opinion?’”
Notice Jesus began with an opinion poll. He was going to ask them a question.
“A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes sir,’ but did not go.”
A simple story that his audience could identify with. At first, we would give a cheer for the “good son” who said, “Yes sir,” and frown upon the “bad son” who rebelled with an “I will not.” Going a little further however, there is a twist. The “good son” never shows up for work and lets the father down. On the other hand, the “bad son” changed his mind and did show up for work, thus surprising the father.
“Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.”
Ouch! Jesus delivers a knockout punch. Notice that at the end of his story, he posed a question that had an obvious answer. The chief priests and elders gave the correct answer: the “bad son” who changed his mind was the hero of the story, because he did his father’s will. The “good son” was the failure because his words were empty. He said the right thing at first to appease the father, but then proceeded to do his own will and ignore his father. Though these leaders considered themselves to be the “good sons,” they in fact were not.
Jesus then elaborated.
“When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
The chief priests and elders saw sinners going down into the water and turning their lives back to God. This was proof enough that John the Baptist was from God, yet the leaders refused to change their minds and accept John.
Jesus was addressing men who had hardness of heart. He loved them and wanted them to repent, so he gave them one more try. He opened their minds with a story and elicited their opinion. Once their minds were open, he delivered his hard-hitting message.
Jesus uses his same teaching approach with us. He loves us passionately and desires our salvation. How can he get through to us? He uses the events of our lives to awaken questions in us. Then, sometimes gently, and sometimes in a more straightforward way, he delivers his message.
Advent is a time of repentance. We seek out Jesus to show us the beams in our eyes that need to be removed. We listen attentively and try to repent. What story is Jesus telling me now? What question is he asking?
“Come, O Lord, do not delay; forgive the sins of your people” (Alleluia verse).
