Ezekiel 18.25-28 | Philippians 2.1-11 | Matthew 21.28-32

Dear brothers and sisters, as we begin a new week with Mother Church on this Lord’s Day—a day of family, rest, and reflection—God’s holy Word challenges us regarding the sincerity of our faith.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents the parable of the two sons whom the father sends to work in the vineyard. The first says he will not go but later changes his mind and goes; the second says he will go but, in the end, does not. With this, the Master directly criticizes a religion of outward appearances and empty words—where God is ostensibly worshipped, yet there is no real room for love, mercy, or the welcoming of repentant sinners. Jesus teaches us that what matters is not beautiful words, but putting God’s Will into practice in our daily lives. Indeed, Jesus points out that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of others because they believed and converted to the message of John the Baptist.

We see this same logic of mercy in the prophet Ezekiel: God does not desire the death of the sinner, but rather that he repent, change his heart, and live. His justice is not unjust; He respects our freedom but always opens a door of hope for us to return to Him.

For his part, the Apostle Paul, writing to the Philippians, invites us to live in harmony and unity, sharing the same sentiments as Christ. Though He was the Son of God, He did not cling to His own glory but emptied Himself, humbled Himself, and took His place beside us to redeem us. Through His obedience, death, and resurrection, God exalted Him to the highest place, where He receives our worship.

May this week not be spent merely in empty religious talk; rather, with knees bowed in worship and hands ready to serve, may we put the Lord’s commandments into practice within our families, at work, and in each of our daily tasks.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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