Daily Reflection for the Pontifical Mission Societies December 16, 2025

It’s December 16th. I’m Monsignor Roger Landry coming to you from our chapel in

downtown Manhattan. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a parable about two sons. We whenever we hear that think about the parable of the prodigal son, but that’s not today. He said, “Two sons.” The father says, “Go work in my vineyard.” The first one says, “I’ll go.” But doesn’t go. The second says, “No.” But then eventually he comes to his senses and he says, “I going to go out and work.” And Jesus says,” Which one does the father’s will?” And everybody recognizes the second. And then he says to those with whom he was speaking, the most religious of the Jewish leaders at the time, he said to the scribes, the Pharisees, the chief priests, and the elders that you by your whole life have said, “We want to do God’s will, but you’re actually not doing it. You’re not going out to work in the vineyard.” But in fact, there are many others who are going out into that vineyard. the prostitutes, the tax collectors, everybody who was considered a sinner at first they were all saying no to God, no to the commandments, no to what God wanted. But eventually when the son of man came, when I came, they converted and they are entering the kingdom of heaven before you. What’s the message for us? It’s not enough for us just to say yes to the Lord with our lips. It’s not enough for us just to say I am a Christian or even to cry out Lord, Lord. We have to do the will of our father in heaven. And even if that requires conversion, even if we’ve given lip service at first and not done it, now this Advent is a chance for us to do what the Lord is asking. There’s a particular missionary emphasis here. Jesus has told you and me and all of us, go to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Baptize in the name of the Blessed Trinity. Teach them not just all that I have commanded you. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. Teach teach them to live what I’ve said knowing that I’m with you always until the end of time. Have we done that? Have we gone out to other creatures? We don’t have to go to Antarctica in order to be able to do it. Are we announcing that message in the stores where we’re shopping? Are we announcing that message to our family members as we’re going to various Advent and Christmas parties? Are we announcing it to the people God places in our life? It’s not enough just to be nominally a Christian. To be a Christian is to be a missionary disciple in communion with all those in the church. And today’s gospel helps us to ask the question, am I just saying yes or am I living a yes? Today, let’s learn from the prostitutes and the chief tax collectors and all those Jesus praised in the Gospel how to do the Lord’s will. This is what he came into the world to bring us so that we and everyone might be saved.

Happy Advent.