The Gift of Being Teachable

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent
December 14, 2010
Available as a Good News Ministries Podcast:
http://gnm.org/DailyReflections/podcasts

Today's Saint: John of the Cross
The prayer from my book for this Saint is not available online;
to order the book, please go to http://gnm.org/books.htm

Today's Readings:
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23
Matthew 21:28-32
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_12_14.mp3

The Gift of Being Teachable

When we’re not teachable, we cannot experience the joy that comes from doing the Father’s will during the times when we don’t feel like doing it. This is the point that Jesus makes in today's Gospel reading. Note that in his parable, he does not condemn the son who said no, because ultimately he did what the father had asked him to do.

What he does condemn is the lack of teachability of those (in this case, the priests and religious elders) who are certain they are doing everything right.

To make his point clear, Jesus refers to the righteousness that had been taught by John the Baptizer; for example: "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none." (See Luke 3:11.)

Jesus taught the same thing: "Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow" (Matt. 5:42).

But this is a very uncomfortable message. How many of us really want to learn it?

If we've worked long hours to earn our money and we're not yet able to afford everything we think we should have, how do we feel when the parish priest uses his homily to ask for increased donations? We get mad at him! Especially during bad economic times. Our first reaction is to answer like the first son in today's parable: "I will not."

And yet, if we love and trust God, and if we truly care about the needs of others, and if our highest priority is holiness, then our "no" becomes "yes."

Humility makes the difference between those who say no but change their minds for the sake of righteousness and those who say yes to please God but fail to keep their commitment. A humble person is willing to change his (or her) mind because he's a teachable person.

A religious but unteachable person hears Jesus but sets up obstacles that block the truth from changing him or her.

In dealing with people who sin against you, forgive them and pray for them, but also find out if they are teachable. Compassionately and gently tell them why their behavior is harmful. If they're teachable, they will learn from their sins and change their ways, and you will be helping them grow in holiness.

However, if they refuse to learn, remember what Jesus prescribed (see Matt. 18:15-17): Try again with the help of others from the Church. And if that doesn't work, treat them as outsiders, for by being unteachable, they have already chosen to live outside the kingdom of God. Jesus told us to walk away (Matt. 10:14), because we should not give our pearls of truth to pigs who will trample on them (Matt. 7:6).

Have you ever noticed that unteachable people are the grumpiest people? What truth is Jesus trying to explain to you in the midst of your own grumpiness? Change is never comfortable, but joy comes from discovering and embracing new insights that lead to change.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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