“The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. – The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” ― Leo Tolstoy: (1828 – 1910: was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time)

Gospel Text: (MT 21:28-32)

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."

What counts is not just saying the right words but doing the right thing. The “tax collectors and prostitutes,” people despised by others in proper society, may have started out saying ‘no’ to God’s will but changed their ways and obeyed the Father. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus challenges religious hypocrisy and blesses those who seek to do God’s will.

I feel the Gospel reading today challenges us to appreciate the stories of change in our lives: How are we changed by our circumstances? How do we change upon hearing the Lord's call?