Reflecting on This Week's Scripture

Ezekiel 18:25–28 Turn away from sin and live! Psalm 25 “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” Philippians 2:1–11 Christ became obedient even to the point of death.

Matthew 21:28–32 The one who obeys the Lord, even reluctantly, is the one who does the will of the Father. It is never too late to change, for the worse or for the better.

Ezekiel contrasts the virtuous person who turns away from God and chooses to sin with the wicked person who turns away from sin to do what is right. Jesus asks the chief priests and elders to consider two sons, one who says no, but ends up obeying, and the other who promises to obey, but doesn’t follow through.

Between these two readings, we hear Saint Paul—who changed his life dramatically after his encounter with Christ—exhort the Philippians to unify in Christ in thought and action. May we do the same. How would my behavior change if I reorient myself toward others and away from myself? What could I do this week that I hadn’t planned to do and for whom?