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(Ez.18:25-28;\xa0\xa0 Ps.25:4-9;\xa0\xa0 Phil.2:1-11;\xa0\xa0 Mt.21:28-32) \xa0 \u201cTax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.\u201d \xa0 Why?\xa0 How can it be that such sinners gain such privilege, such grace?\xa0 Is it for their sins?\xa0 Shall we all become as they?\xa0 We should be like them, but not in sin \u2013 in repentance.\xa0 For it is because they have \u201cturned away from all [the] sins that [they] committed\u201d that they are saved; it is because they are \u201ctax collectors and prostitutes\u201d no more.\xa0 And so we are all called to turn away from the sin which each of us surely has. David sings beautifully of this in our psalm: \u201cThe sins of my youth and my frailty remember not,\u201d as he begs the Lord for His kindness.\xa0 For all that we have done in our ignorance and our weakness we should seek the Lord\u2019s mercy, for He assures us throughout our readings that \u201cHe shows sinners the way\u201d when they come humbly before Him. When the first son in Jesus\u2019 parable responds to his father\u2019s request for him to work in the vineyard, \u201cI will not,\u201d what does this son do but sin against his father? \u2013 just as each of us sins against our heavenly Father when we turn from His will to blindly follow our own.\xa0 But what did the son show when he \u201cafterwards changed his mind and went\u201d but his contrition and repentance at his insubordination, thus illustrating the manner in which our consciences should lead us from our own disobedience?\xa0 And as Jesus makes clear, it was this son who \u201cdid his father\u2019s will\u201d and so will be blessed by him. Our reading from Ezekiel makes this theme of turning from sin and finding blessing even clearer.\xa0 It states in certain terms of the wicked man that \u201cif he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life.\u201d\xa0 With such assurance, why should we delay our own conversion, which must be effected day to day? St. Paul presents the attitude we must have before others and God in order to find the Lord\u2019s grace.\xa0 He states: \u201cHumbly regard others as more important than yourselves,\u201d and then gives the clear example of the most humble of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, who \u201cemptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness.\u201d\xa0 He so \u201chumbled Himself\u201d that He became \u201cobedient even unto death, death on a cross.\u201d\xa0 And so should we be proud?\xa0 Should we harden ourselves in our sin, or rather turn and empty ourselves of all that is not of Him?\xa0 The salvation repentance finds is indicated also in the fact that, because of Jesus\u2019 humility, \u201cGod exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every other name.\u201d\xa0 So let us not hesitate to join the tax collectors and prostitutes among us who bend the knee before Him; let our \u201ctongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,\u201d and we shall know His reward. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Where's My Brother?" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, turning away from all our sins and humbling ourselves before you, let us but do your holy will.\xa0 YHWH, help us to turn from our sins and do your holy will.\xa0 May we be obedient as your Son, who gave His life to save others.\xa0 Let all souls repent of their wickedness and walk in His way, that all might find salvation in His Name. If we could but be humble before you, LORD; if we could but admit our failings, our selfishness and pride, our blindness to your call for our lives\u2026 then we would be blessed by you and become your faithful sons.\xa0 Break our hardened hearts that we might love, that we might look upon you who are love itself. O let us be empty, LORD, of all we would possess, of all that we would grasp with our own hands.\xa0 Let us indeed be blessed to recognize our sinfulness and find your mercy and forgiveness.\xa0 You but want for us to turn to you that you might embrace us as your own.\xa0 May your compassion be known in our hearts this day.