Tuesday of
the 3rd Week of Advent
December 15, 2015 8:30am
I have always seen today’s gospel
as a lesson about integrity.
Integrity means wholeness.
It means a oneness or harmony of
our thoughts, words, and actions.
In a way, it is simple.
Remember what you believe.
Say what you believe.
And do what you say.
So, remember what you believe.
Say what you believe.
And do what you say.
Both sons in this passage lacked
full integrity.
The one who said he would work in
the vineyard but did not was clearly lacking in integrity.
The other son who said he would
not work in the vineyard but then did work was better, because his actions
followed the father’s wishes.
And, of course, actions speak
louder than words.
But even he was lacking in
integrity because there was not this harmony or oneness of thoughts, words, and
actions.
Discipleship means that we grow
into more and more personal, spiritual, and moral integrity.
It means that we are prayerfully
and reflectively in touch with what we believe, say what we believe, and then
do what we say.
That can at times be difficult.
Peer pressure or going along with
others are saying or doing can cause lack of integrity.
Or simply sheer resistance within
ourselves and taking the easy way out can cause this.
These are the roots of lack of
integrity or sin.
But, little by little we are all
to be growing in integrity.
Reaching it is probably a
lifelong process and journey.
