In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of two sons. One initially refuses his father’s request but later changes his mind and goes to work in the vineyard. The other readily agrees but never follows through.

There is something wonderfully hopeful in that first son.

His answer was “no”—but his first answer was not his final answer.

All of us have said no to God at some point in our lives. Sometimes we know what God is asking of us, but we resist it, postpone it, or simply walk in another direction. Yet God does not give up on us.

He continues to call. He continues to work within our hearts. He gives us the grace to turn around and begin again.

Jesus points to the tax collectors and prostitutes who heard John the Baptist and responded. Others may have written them off, but God had not. They listened. They turned. And Jesus says they were entering the Kingdom.

What an extraordinary message of hope.

God never looks at our past and says, “That is all you will ever be.”

Whatever our answer has been until today, the Father is still calling. His grace is still at work. Through His grace, our no can become a yes.

May we open our hearts to Him and learn to live that yes each day.

Fr. Paul