TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

As Americans, we are becoming less trusting, whether it concerns politics or corporations, educational or religious institutions, athletes or celebrities. We are more and more skeptical of those whom we used to automatically trust. Our gospel and first reading address this trend of lack of integrity, honesty and truthfulness.

Why do we trust less? Perhaps it is due to a disease known as Integrity Deficit Disorder. I Googled it; Integrity Deficit Disorder actually does exist. A person infected with IDD says one thing and then does another.

I remember a medical doctor who came to our senior class in High School to talk to us about the dangers of smoking. He scared us with photos of smokers’ lungs and stories of people who died of lung cancer. A couple of us saw the doctor get into his car and immediately light up a cigarette. His credibility was shot. It evaporated immediately.

Saying one thing and doing another is something that no one respects.

Some traits of people who lack integrity and have Integrity Deficit Disorder are:

• They believe rules don’t apply to them, only to others.
• They act differently when no one is watching them.
• They will compromise their principles.
• They exaggerate the truth, to the point of lying.
• They fail to keep their commitments or promises.

Unfortunately, we live in a culture where the ends justify the means.

• Students will cheat in school to improve their grades and get into a good college.
• People will lie on their job application to get the job they want.
• People will over-promise and under-deliver.
• People will call in sick when they just want a day off work.

This list could go on and on.

Warren Buffett was asked what three qualities he looks for when hiring someone. His response: “I look for integrity, intelligence and energy. But, if they don’t have integrity, the other two won’t make a difference.”

In our gospel today, Jesus uses a remarkably simple story to illustrate integrity. This story is only found in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus and his disciples were once again engaged in a heated debate with the Pharisees. The Pharisees wanted to know why Jesus associated with sinners.

Earlier in Matthew, the Pharisees rudely asked, “Why do you do all those good deeds for those public sinners? And why do you hang around with those people?”

Rather than get into an argument, Jesus simply asked a rhetorical question, “What do you think of this case?” Then he tells the parable of a father who had two sons, each of whom he asked to go work in the vineyard.

The first son said “No,” but he changed his mind and went. The second son said “Yes,” but he did not go.

This had to get the Pharisees thinking. I imagine one of the Pharisees, pulling at his beard, reflecting on the story and saying to another Pharisee, “Do you think Jesus is talking about us? Is He saying we’re like the sons who say one thing and do another?”

Remember, this is at a time when the Pharisees had imposed over six hundred commandments for the Jews to follow. Yet they often did not follow these commandments themselves.

Then Jesus said, “Let me make it clear to you Pharisees, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you.”

In the time of Jesus, tax collectors and prostitutes were the most notorious of public sinners and therefore the most hated. Who are these people today? Perhaps, they would be the greedy CEO’s or the unwelcome immigrants, maybe even government appointees or elected politicians.

What is remarkable about this gospel story is that neither son was perfect. Integrity Deficit Disorder flawed both. The critical and life-saving difference between the two sons is that one repented. He had a change of heart and made a 180-degree turn from the disrespect and dishonesty he exhibited to his father.

I am told that one of the first and fundamental lessons a student pilot learns is: “When the weather is getting bad up ahead, admit you are heading into trouble and do a 180-degree turn. Head back to where the weather is much better.”

Doing a 180-degree turn isn’t limited to just flying. People in rehabilitative programs understand the 180-degree turnaround. They know from experience that their lives will never amount to anything unless they deliberately turn their life around.

Ezekiel described that 180-degree turn: “But if he turns from the wickedness he committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life.”

In what area of your life do you need to do a 180-degree turn? Like the first son, we need to change our hearts. As St. Paul suggests in our second reading, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vain glory; rather humbly regard others as more important than ourselves, each looking out not for our own interests, but for the interests of others.”

Let’s seek a cure for any Integrity Deficit Disorder we may have and become models of integrity.