Sunday, September 20, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters,

Many parents desire to be close to their children and try their best to understand their children, to support them, and to walk with them through every stage of life. That desire is good and meaningful. However, some parents make the mistake of wanting only to be their children's closest companions or someone whom their children can confide in. While friendship is an important part of parenting, parents are called to be much more than friends. A friend may simply listen and encourage, but a parent must also guide, correct, and form. Par-ents are responsible not only for making their children happy but also for helping them face struggles, learn from mistakes, grow in responsibility, maturity, faith, and human dignity. Therefore, parents must set clear boundaries, enforce reasonable consequences when necessary, and teach their children to honor commitments, accept responsibilities, overcome challenges, and pursue worthy goals.

In a similar way, many believers speak of God as their best friend or someone who always walks beside them, loves them, and supports them. There is truth in this, especially when He wants to reveal Himself as the loving and compassionate One. However, we must also remember that God is far more than a friend. He is our Crea-tor, our Lord, and our Judge. God the Father gives us His commandments and calls us to obey them. God the Son provides us a mission and expects us to fulfill it. God the Holy Spirit leads us according to His wisdom, not our preferences. His plan cannot be understood by human knowledge, His justice cannot be measured by human standards, and His mercy cannot be granted by human expectations.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah reminds us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:9). In the second reading, St. Paul clarifies the differences between the life with Christ and the one in human flesh. In this weekend’s Gospel, through the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus reveals God as the owner who would act according to His own will and pay according to His own judgment. As His laborers, we must honor Him, worship Him, obey Him, and entrust ourselves to His holy will. We must hold in our hearts and pray with faith, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We must also strive to live the greatest commandment each day: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang!

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.