Mt 21, 28-32

Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: See the father and two sons in the apartment. The father tells his sons to go and work in his vineyard. One son answers affirmatively to his father’s request and the other refuses. Then they do exactly the opposite of their answers

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for the experience that I am a beloved son / daughter of God

1. My attitude.

Today’s Gospel speaks of obedience to God the Father. Both sons symbolize the disciples of Jesus to whom he announces the will of God. Tax collectors, prostitutes, or sinners who were considered alienated from God, rebelled at first, but later fulfilled God’s will. The leaders of the nation of Israel were considered those who are closest to God, know the commandments and the Holy Scriptures, but they did not confirm them by their actions, they rejected God’s will. God’s will is not only to accept the Gospel, but to adapt it to life: patient fulfillment of our duties, faithfulness to prayer, looking for greater good in our daily lives and the relationships in which we are. This passage clearly shows us that God is present not only in thoughts, theories, but most of all things in real facts. Thus, Love is shown more in deeds than in words (St. Ignatius of Loyola).

Who are you in the meditated scene? Which son are you? In what situations and relationships are you more like the first son and which are you more like second son? Why?

2. Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.

These are God’s words to you today. How you accept them may depend on what image of God you carry in you: is he a judge who threatens you with a penalty, is he a thief who wants to take away your plans, is he a Santa Claus who is to fulfill your cravings, or an accountant who scrupulously writes down everything you do, whether is he the Merciful Father who loves his children and desires good and happiness for them, who extends his hand to you and is born in you every day? Going further, notice that your perception of your life, what God is inviting you to do, depends on this image. Religiousness, rituals, devotional mantle with which we can sometimes cover our true motivations also depend on this image of God the Father.

What image of God do you carry within you? Maybe today you need to verify it… to experience that you truly are his beloved son, beloved daughter.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)