Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Guilt and shame are two everyday experiences in life. For good or ill, guilt and shame shape our thoughts and actions. Today’s Gospel story helps us navigate those feelings, recognizing what is good and what needs to be rejected.
It must be first asked, what is guilt and shame? As something to be rejected, shame is the feeling of personal worthlessness. Shame is a feeling that my dignity or value as a human person has diminished because of my actions. On the other hand, guilt is a recognition that an action—not my dignity—is wrong. Guilt allows a person to see how their actions may have caused harm and that, in the future, should be avoided. Guilt is a good thing.
The chief priests and elders shamed the tax collectors and prostitutes who had listened to John and returned to God. The chief priests and elders determined that the tax collector’s and prostitutes’ value had been diminished and so deserved little or no compassion or renewal. This led the chief priests and elders to remain outside God’s grace. They typify the son who says with his lips, “Yes,” but in his heart hates.
The first son, who, though initially disobedient, felt guilty—he saw his actions as causing harm, returned to the father’s will, and accomplished his task. The tax collectors and prostitutes, who were grave sinners, heard God assuring them of his love yet acted poorly, saw the harm of their actions, and repented.
What is your experience? Do you experience shame? Do your actions or thoughts cause you to think you are not worthy, valuable, or lovable? This is far from the truth; this is not of God. The truth is that one’s actions or thoughts matter not to our dignity or value. You remain a beloved son or daughter of the father, who is always, ALWAYS pursuing you and calling after you to tell you he loves you.
That being said, we cannot escape the reality that our actions and thoughts can cause harm and that we are liable for them. We are called to feel guilt and work toward changing our behavior and healing areas of woundedness. Yes, Jesus worked with grave sinners and accepted them but did not let them remain in their sin. We must not remain in our sin.
Jesus tells us that the first son, though initially disobedient but returned, is the genuinely faithful one. Let us, hearing Jesus’ words, commit to seeing our sin as wrongful, to changing our ways, but always remain in our trust of His love for us.
Reflection by Fr. Etienne, Huard, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections