September 27, 2026, Gospel: Conversion, Mercy and True Discipleship
Readings and Virtual Homily for September 27, 2026, Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Retreat Season at O'Dowd; St. Clement Celebrates 75 Years (And Guess Who is the Parish's Longest-Serving Priest?); Start of October Schedule
Readings for Mass this Sunday:
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-9
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32
Dear Friends and Family,
In general the readings this Sunday once again address the questions of sin and forgiveness, of God's ready mercy, and of the demands of real discipleship.
The first reading from Ezekiel foreshadows the Gospel passage, in that it describes "righteous" people turning from the path of righteousness at the same time that it acknowledges the mercy and forgiveness the wicked will encounter, the moment they turn from evil and to the Lord (vss. 26-28). The Gospel passage illuminates a similar dynamic among the two sons of the landowner. We'll get to that in a moment.
The psalmist urges God to "remember not the sins of my youth," while reminding God that his compassion and mercy "are ages old" (vss. 6-7). The psalmist exemplifies the spiritual dynamic expressed in Ezekiel; he (the psalmist) has left his sins behind, and trusts in God's saving love. Giving a general assurance of that saving love, the psalm continues "Good and upright is the Lord. therefore he shows sinners the way" (vs. 8).
The Gospel passage is perhaps best understood as making a clear distinction between active discipleship and lip-service to God. The second son tells his father he will obey, and go into the vineyard to work. In his "yes," this son appears to be righteous. But he does not follow through. The first son, who initially refuses, subsequently changes his mind and heads out to the vineyard, in fulfillment of the father's request.
I want to be careful about how I say this, because I don't want to put myself in the position of judging the depth or quality of anyone's faith, but it is certainly possible to be someone who says "yes" in terms of checking the boxes, but who does not follow through by living a life of genuine discipleship. The Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a case in point. He goes to the synagogue and lists his "checked boxes" (tithing, attendance at services, observing the Sabbath, etc.), not for one minute suspecting that his faith is hollow (Luke 18:9-14). The parable leaves us with the impression that the Pharisee says yes to rules which do not greatly inconvenience him, while ignoring the hard demands of being a disciple -- as just one example, having love for his neighbor (in this case, the tax collector whom he looks down upon).
True discipleship involves conversion of heart -- as the first son evidently experiences, in today's Gospel passage. Conversion is an ongoing process. If we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that we never reach the state of perfection the Pharisee imagines he has attained. The tax collector, in his acknowledgment of his failures, opens himself to the movement of grace, just as the first son in today's passage evidently does. There is an important virtue at work here, in both instances. That virtue is humility. Which brings us back to the psalm: the Lord "guides the humble in righteousness, and teaches the humble his way" (vs. 9).
As you know from last week's e-mail, I gave a retreat on Franciscan spirituality at St. Clare in Soquel last weekend. Got back to Hayward Sunday afternoon and had just two days in class with my sophomores before heading off to San Damiano in Danville for our first (of four) Kairos retreats with the juniors. Kairos is a three-day retreat and it is pretty intense. The teens often describe it as "life-changing." I have made over thirty Kairos retreats now, with the high school, and have the drill way down, but each experience is unique because, of course, it is different sets of students each time. As I say, it is an intense three days. I have learned not to schedule anything for Friday evening, following a Kairos.
This coming week I will return to San Damiano Thursday and Friday for our first sophomore retreat; and the following week, will be there again Thursday and Friday for the first senior retreat. My students see more substitutes than those of any other member of the faculty; I warn them of my retreat-related absences at the start of the semester. It keeps me on my toes, trying to maintain the pace with all the other sophomore religion teachers; I have to cover the same ground despite significantly less class time with my students.
But our retreat program at O'Dowd, which has expanded significantly in my twelve years on campus, is exceptional; it is powerful. It is worth whatever it takes on my part, to be effective in the classroom and at the same time, available for all of our retreats.
I am getting this done as it is going on noon, Saturday. Beyond my windows there is the music, there are the announcements of the parish festival, the start of which I opened with a blessing just an hour ago. It's a special festival, this year; we are celebrating St. Clement's 75th anniversary. I love our festival regardless; it has been one of my favorite weekends in the parish since I arrived here. But it is bigger this year because of the anniversary; a lot of priests associated with the parish will be here, celebrating Masses, this weekend. The fact of their presence leaves me largely free all weekend to -- relax and enjoy the party. It is a very well-timed break; since my aunt's death over Labor weekend, September has largely been a blur.
On the subject of priests associated with St. Clement, parish leaders informed me sometime during the summer, as they were preparing for this weekend's many presiders at the Masses, that of all the men who have served here, no one has served anywhere near as long as I have. I am in my twelfth year here at St. Clement, just as I am at O'Dowd. A couple of the parish's former pastors reached eighth and ninth years here, but no one -- except me -- has gone twelve. The fact makes me smile. I love this parish. I love Hayward. And I have no plans to leave!
Gonna wrap it because it is already noon Saturday. Sorry to be a little behind with this one -- the week left no room for error, and no time for the homily!
Take care. And stop by St. Clement, if you want, today or tomorrow. The food's great. The entertainment is, in fact, entertaining, and the weather is just about perfect.
God bless.
Love,
Fr. Brawn
Thanks entirely to yours truly, Father Jesus has not yet been able to make up the Mass and confession schedule for the autumn. I am getting him my availability this weekend, and will have a full October Mass schedule out next e-mail. But for the moment, here is what is on the calendar (all Masses English):
Saturday, October 3, 500 PM
Sunday, October 4, 630 PM
Sunday, October 11
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF PLEASANTON (Seton Campus)
11 AM