Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

September 26, 2026

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22:28-32

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:

"What is your opinion?

A man had two sons.

He came to the first and said,

'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'

He 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.

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.

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 Door Still Stands Open

Turn Back



~Rev. Patrick Brady

Pastor, Saint Stainislaus + Lansdale, PA

This is the first of three parables Jesus delivers in the Temple during his final week, in answer to the chief priests and elders who have challenged his authority (21:23–27). Two sons, one father, one vineyard. The first son refuses, then “changes his mind” and goes. The second says, “I will, sir,” and never goes. In Jesus’ world, a public refusal of a parent was a serious breach of honor and would have shocked his hearers. Asked which son did the father’s will, the leaders answer correctly: the first. Jesus then turns their verdict back on them. Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom before them, because they believed John in the way of righteousness. Disobedience that repents is better than orthodoxy without obedience.

Matthew uses μεταμέλομαι (“changed his mind”) rather than μετανοέω, his usual word for the kingdom call to repent (3:2; 4:17). While the two verbs carry different nuances, the distinction should not be pressed in this passage. The parable’s crux is the breach distance between promise and action, not the nomenclature of repentance.

The Greek verb προάγουσιν, “are going ahead,” is present tense. Jesus does not say “instead of you.” His words carry sting: the outcasts are ahead of the chief priests. They also carry hope. The door still stands open.

The phrase, “The will of the Father” (v. 31), echoes the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father” (7:21). It also resonates with the Our Father and with Jesus himself, the faithful Son who doesn’t fail, praying in Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (26:39).



Discerning Decisions: Our Confident Response to God

~Margaret Sykes

Nativity of Our Lord + Warminster, PA



In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the two sons in order to challenge us with discerning our approaches to fulfilling God’s will: either we enthusiastically say “yes” but then never follow through on our good intentions, or we reluctantly say “no” but after careful reflection we reverse course and embrace the righteousness of God’s message. This passage speaks to the difference which exists between change of mind versus change of heart and the impact it has on our willingness to truly follow Jesus.

When we decide with our minds if we want to accept His teachings, we may adopt an impulsive perspective by asking ourselves: “Why would Jesus seek ‘imperfect’ me to follow Him?” or “Do I have what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus?” or “Am I willing to dedicate my time, energy, and resources to serve others like Jesus?” By doing so, we respond affirmatively in haste without much thought, but later lack the willingness to follow through on our commitment.

However, when we decide with our hearts, our perspective may be driven by a metanoia, that is, a deeply reflective and responsive transformation through which we are converted and prompted to go “beyond ourselves.” It is this genuine, fundamental change that Jesus desires of us when we hear His Word and choose to believe in Him. As a result, our response can reflect a bold shift from reluctance and passiveness to enthusiasm and courage: “Jesus loves me unconditionally and seeks my relationship with Him” and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).”

It is only through Jesus’ grace that we can truly stand firm in our decisions by enabling our simple “yes” to mean “yes” and “no” to mean “no” in order to fulfill His will. (Matt 5:37).