St. Francis Xavier Petoskey

8 hours ago

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of a father who has two sons. He goes to the first and says, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The son says, “No,” but later changes his mind and goes. The father asks the second son the same thing. He says, “Yes, sir,” but he does not go.

The vineyard in the Bible is often a symbol of Israel, God’s chosen people. God has entrusted His vineyard to His people and expects them to respond to His call. But Jesus uses this familiar image to speak not only about Israel but also about us.

The question for us is simple: When God says, “Go and work in my vineyard today,” what is our response?

Sometimes we are like the first son. We say “no” to God. We hesitate. We make excuses. Perhaps we think, I am too busy. Someone else can do it. I am not ready. But later, we change our minds and say yes. And that yes matters to God.

At other times, we can be like the second son. We say all the right things. We say, “Yes, Lord.” We come to Mass. We pray. We call ourselves Christians. But when God asks us to serve, forgive, reach out, teach our children the faith, help someone in need, or become more involved in the life of the Church, our “yes” can remain only words.
Jesus reminds us today that God is looking for more than words. He is looking for a response expressed in our lives.

The vineyard is still here. It is the Church, our parish, our families, our community, and the people God places in our path.

Every day, God says to each of us: “Go and work in my vineyard today.”

He may be calling us to volunteer, to serve, to forgive someone, to encourage a struggling family member, to pray for someone, to become more faithful at Mass, or simply to be a witness to Christ in our daily lives.

And perhaps the most beautiful message of the Gospel is that it is never too late to change our answer. The son who first said no eventually went. God gives us the grace to change our hearts and begin again.

So today, let us not ask only, “Did I say yes to God?” Let us ask something deeper:

“Did I live my yes ... See MoreSee Less

St. Francis Xavier Petoskey

1 week ago

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Matthew 20:1–16

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s Gospel challenges our understanding of fairness. The workers who labored all day are upset because those who worked only one hour received the same wage.

We might say, “That is not fair!”

But the landowner asks, “Are you envious because I am generous?” God does not measure us by comparison. His generosity toward another person does not diminish His love for us.

Notice that the landowner keeps going out throughout the day, looking for people to invite into his vineyard.

God never stops seeking us.

Perhaps someone has been away from the Church for many years. Perhaps someone feels unworthy or thinks it is too late to return. The Gospel reminds us: it is never too late to answer God’s invitation.

This speaks to us as a parish community. We are the vineyard. Each of us has a place and a responsibility in the life of our parish.
Some have served for many years. Others may be just beginning.
The question is not, “Why isn't someone else doing it?”

but

“Where is God asking me to serve?”

It may be welcoming someone at Mass, serving at the altar, teaching our children, singing, helping with faith formation, visiting the homebound, supporting our school, or simply reaching out to someone who feels disconnected.

There are people in our community who may be waiting for an invitation. Perhaps God is asking us to say:

“Come. There is a place for you here.”

Let us not compare. Let us not ask who came early or late. Instead, let us be grateful for God’s generosity and rejoice whenever someone comes into His vineyard.

So today, let us ask ourselves:

“Where is God inviting me to work in His vineyard?”

May Saint Francis Xavier Parish continue to be a community where everyone is welcomed, valued, and invited to share in the mission of Christ.

Amen. ... See MoreSee Less

St. Francis Xavier Petoskey

2 weeks ago

“No one can have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother” - Saint Cyprian of Carthage. ... See MoreSee Less