Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from You.”

To be or not to be. To do or not to do. To commit ourselves or not to commit ourselves. The doubts and questions of a Hamlet are those of all of us. There are so many variations on the theme of commitment. We have the story in the Gospel about the two sons. One says Yes to his father's order and never carries it out; the other says No but afterwards goes and carries it out anyway (Matthew 21:28-32).

By our baptism, by prayer, public profession of faith, regular worship we formally say Yes to God. In that we're like the chief priests and elders among Jesus' people; they formally subscribe to the Covenant with God. Yet, Jesus with the story about the two sons tells them that the sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes, are really more faithful to what God asks than they. Commitment has to go beyond words and gestures to how we treat the poor and unloved, the suffering and needy, any who have a claim on us. Does our Yes that we utter in church echo in daily life and behavior?

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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