He Answered, 'I will not'...but he changed his mind.......

Mathew 21:28-32 "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said to the same; and he answered, 'I go,sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said,"The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitues believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him

This is one of the interesting parables of Jesus and it talks about the relationship between repentance and Kingdom of God. Here the first son represents gentile community. They rejected God's commandments earlier but later repented and did God's will. Second son represents so called 'religious community' of that time.What are the lessons we are learning from this parable today.....

1. Our God always carries out God's mission through human beings. God comes near to us and asking..."can you do this".....The responsiblities entrusted to us is a gift from God ......God is a God of mission....thrust of God's mission is fullness of life to all irrespective of colour, wealth, caste, religion, gender......

2. Engage with God's commandments is a way of life. The first son of the parable initially said 'no'...but his father's words were there in his mind.....it really haunted him....later he did what his father said. Don't leave God's doscourses with us somewhere but carry it wherever we go....the second son said 'yes' but he took his father's words very lightly....engage with God's words seriously and carry it always...that will help us to do God's will.

3.Repentance is a process. It is not an emotional reaction but a reaction out of conviction, commitment and realisation. The first son reacted negatively but acted positively because his decision came out of his realisation. But the second son's words came out of his shallow understanding....he didn't realise the importance of his father's words.....God always love the people who are ready to correct themselves....

4. Second son said 'yes' to his father's words..but he obeyed HIS OWN words......first son said 'no'.......but he obeyed his FATHER's words.....sometimes we could hear the words of evil ........why I should do....why you I give....why should I suffer....

Let we controlled by God's words....not the words of this world....