Summarizing the passage from the prophet Ezekiel: One who repents after having done evil is totally forgiven. One who has been virtuous and then turns to sin loses their reward. The Psalm is prayer of repentance. In the Gospel, Jesus seeks to clarify the spirit of Mosaic Law.

Today’s first reading struck me in the same way as the parable of the workers in the vineyard who all received a full-day’s wages regardless of their starting time. Growing up in this society I am immediately moved to say that this is not fair. I am reminded that salvation is not based on an economic model. I see that today’s first reading has the same kind of parallel with the parable of the 10 bridesmaids and the five whose torches run out before the arrival of the bride and groom and end up being locked out. I am reminded that salvation is not about partial credit.

At one point in my life, I considered getting an MBA and I visited a lecture at a prestigious business school. It was on “The Happiness Equation”. The point of the lecture was that people were happy when the ratio of what we get to what we expect was increasing. I think back to my senior quote in my high school yearbook. “One who expects nothing finds no disappointment.” (Of course, I wrote it in German because I was a geeky 18-year-old kid.) While my family felt that I was manifesting nihilistic tendencies, I had always regarded this statement as the flip-side of “Everything is a gift”. Years later I discovered that this thought was better expressed by Richard Rohr who wrote “Entitlement is lethal for the soul.”

I see the Gospel taking one step farther than the first reading and the psalm. In the Gospel, the demand seems to be to go above and beyond the law. Jesus seems to say that salvation lies beyond the acts of the church leaders. Jesus seems to say that salvation lies beyond the rituals of personal reconciliation. Jesus seems to say that salvation lies in going beyond external acts and involves the restoration of relationships. My prayer today focuses on reconciliation.

Dear Lord,
I come before You, but I still continue to disappoint.
With age I come to realize the depth of personal failings.
I start to see the many times that I have left matters unresolved,
and have moved on neglecting the damaged relationships.
I start to see the iniquity of my silent ascent to societal norms
that continue historically damaged relationships.
My only salvation is that You are patient and forgiving.

Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, for I am gracious and merciful.  Jl 2:12-13.