Reflect today on that part of God's will that is most difficult for you to embrace and do immediately and wholeheartedly.

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go out today and work in the vineyard." The son replied, “I won't,” but then he changed his mind and went. Matthew 21: 28–29

This Gospel passage above is the first part of a two-part story. The first son says he will not go to work in the vineyard but changes his mind and leaves. The second son says he will go but not. Which child are you most like?

Obviously, the ideal would be to have said "Yes" to the father and then to have done so. But Jesus tells this story to compare "prostitutes and tax collectors" with "chief priests and elders". Many of these religious leaders of the time were good at saying the right thing, but they did not act in accordance with God's will. Conversely, sinners of the time were not always ready to agree, but many of them eventually heard the message of repentance and changed their habits.

So again, which group are you most like? It is humbling to admit that we often struggle, especially in the beginning, to embrace all that God asks of us. His commands are radical and require an enormous amount of integrity and goodness to be accepted. For this reason, there are many things that we initially refuse to accept. For example, the act of forgiving another is not always immediately easy. Or engaging in daily prayer immediately can be difficult. Or choosing any form of virtue over vice may not come without difficulty.

A message of incredible mercy that our Lord reveals to us through this passage is that, as long as we live, it is never too late to change. Basically we all know what God wants from us. The problem is that we often allow our confused reasoning or disordered passions to hinder our absolute, immediate and sincere response to God's will. But if we can keep in mind that even the "prostitutes and tax collectors" eventually came around, we will be encouraged to eventually change our ways.

Reflect today on that part of God's will that is most difficult for you to embrace and do immediately and wholeheartedly. What do you find yourself saying "No" to, at least in the beginning. Resolve to build the inner habit of saying "Yes" to our Lord and to follow His will in every way.

Precious Lord, give me the grace I need to respond to every prompting of grace in my life. Help me say “Yes” to you and carry out my actions. As I see more clearly the ways in which I have withheld Your grace, give me courage and strength to change in order to more fully conform to Your perfect plan for my life. Jesus I believe in you.