“Life Is Made Up of Choices.”
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – A
Someone once told me a story about an old Cherokee who was teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside of me,” he said. “It is a fierce fight between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, regret, greed, pride, selfishness, resentment, and deceit. The other one is good- he is compassion, humility, patience, love, forgiveness, peace, generosity, kindness, and truth. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson was wide-eyed. He thought a moment then asked, “Which wolf will win, Grandfather?” The old Cherokee replied, “The one you feed.”
Life is about choices. From our earliest years, our choices frame our future. Our choices bring either life or death.
In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, God says that his will for us is that we have life. However, on the journey of life, we can make choices that lead to death. Evil can cause more kinds of loss than physical death, such as: death of a relationship from selfishness, holding grudges, pride, and greed. End of inner peace through bitterness, jealousy, and anger.
Goodness, on the other hand, can lead to abundant life here and hereafter. We all have the freedom to choose what kind of person we want to be. Despite our life situations, we all have the freedom to choose. Goodness produces the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Saint Paul tells us how to feed the good wolf: “Have the safe attitude that Christ Jesus has.” Christ was self-emptying. Though he was God, he emptied himself of his godliness to embrace humanity. Christ was humble, He did not come as a person of wealth or high position. He came as a servant, one who washed the feet of his disciples, one who had no home of his own, no coins in his pocket. He was the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us, his sheep. Christ was obedient. Jesus was obedient, even when he knew that breaking the letter of the law and healing on the Sabbath was going to stir up trouble for him. Christ was loving compassion. Christ showed compassion and healing to all who asked for it, simply for the asking.
Part of our story in the gospel is about choices. Both Sons of the Vineyard owner had a choice to make, be obedient and do as I am asked to do or refuse. I would say that most of us are like the second Son. We may refuse in the beginning but through thought and reflection realize that we made a bad choice and change our minds and go, do what we are asked to do.
The entire point of this gospel is to show that our actions need to match our words. The Gospel shows that we cannot profess one thing and do another if we want to “enter the kingdom.” Words without actions are useless. When we talk the God talk without walking the God walk, we are hypocrites, too, just like the Pharisees. It is the actions that follow our words that prove our sincerity. The Cherokee chief said our choices in life depend on the wolf we feed – evil or goodness. Which wolf are we feeding?