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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me think things through before changing my mind! Amen.

"A man had two sons," Jesus said. "He told each one, 'Go work in the fields.' One said no, then changed his mind and went. The other said, 'I will,' but didn't go. Which son did what his father asked?" Jesus' listeners answered, "The first one." Jesus said, "In the same way, people you call 'bad' will get to heaven before you."


Kids are always changing their minds. One week, your favorite color is blue; the next week, it's red. You may suddenly decide you don't like tomatoes or that one girl is your best friend instead of another. It can be hard for the adults in your life to keep up!

Little things like loving or hating tomatoes aren't the only things that change, of course. The whole reason people go to reconciliation is that everyone wants to change - and confession is about changing for the better, wanting forgiveness for mistakes.

This week's Gospel (Matthew 21:28-32) is also about changing your mind. Both of the two sons change - one for the better, one not. The first son is like a kid picking the tomatoes out of a salad: You haven't tried them yet, but you've decided you don't like them!

That son automatically says no, he won't work. Later, he realizes he was wrong and changes his mind. (Haven't you ever tried a food you swore you hated, and found out it wasn't bad?)

The other son also changes his mind. Like a kid declaring one girl her best friend and then another, his mind-changing is hurtful. He makes a promise, but doesn't keep it.

Changing your mind from week to week can be fun, when it's about little things like a favorite color. You can like whatever color you want. But making big, negative changes without thinking can create big problems.

It's a good thing we can change our minds back again![[In-content Ad]]

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