The God of Changed Minds

Reflection for September 27, 2026 – Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the two sons and the vineyard, telling the chief priests and elders that to enter the kingdom of God, they must change their minds about John the Baptist’s message of repentance. Find today’s readings here.

I wonder what was so important.

The man gave both his sons the same order: go out and work in the vineyard today. One son said yes. One refused.

The first son doesn’t show up. The second son changes his mind, and does what his father asked. I wonder what was so important, that it kept the first from fulfilling his word. I wonder what was so important, that it prevented the second from committing wholeheartedly.

I have an image in my head of the sun setting on the vineyard. The second son pauses for a moment to catch his breath while his father sits at the gate, anxiously scanning the horizon. “Any sign?” the son asks the father, who, instead of answering, drops his gaze into his lap.

With this parable, Jesus acknowledges that few of his disciples can anticipate a straight path to Heaven. Most of us are destined for a few bends in the road. Most of us will suffer failures of will and strength. We will become distracted. We will become preoccupied. We will doubt ourselves. There will be so many things that seem important, and it will take us too long to realize they aren’t. Once we have, we may be too proud to change course.

The shadows grow long in the vineyard. Any moment and they will give way to darkness. With its dying breath, the sun illuminates the contours of a figure making his way toward the father and son. When the figure cries out, it is a voice they recognize. “Am I too late?”

We worship the God of second chances. The God of changed minds. The God of never-too-late.

©LPi