Twenty Sixth Sunday of OT

Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 29, 2002

Have you ever heard the Texas phrase: “I’m fixin’ to do it?”

My good friends, Sam and Mary Clark, are residents of East Texas. I knew Mary from her college years. When she married Sam, the quiet man she met from Longview, Texas, I learned a few new phrases. One of them was: “That dog won’t hunt,” meaning – bad idea, don’t even think about it. I also learned that “I’m fixin’ to do it” was short for: It’s a good idea, and maybe I’ll get around to it, but until then, don’t bug me and don’t count on anything getting done. ‘Cause it could take a while before fixin becomes doing…’

It strikes me that the second son in today’s gospel would have made a great East Texan. “Go”, demands the request from the Father. “I’m fixin’ to”, comes the reply. On my terms. When I have time. And in my own way. Translated – don’t lose any sleep waiting for it to happen. “I’m fixin’ to do it,” is not a productive way to live the life of discipleship, much less any kind of long term commitment.

The story that Jesus tells goes to the heart of the matter. “Which of the two did the father’s will?” It’s not a matter of externals, of saying words that are so easy, as did the first son. It’s a matter of moving from fixin’ to doin’. From speaking about God/Jesus/the kingdom – to DOING about the kingdom.

Growing up, I first fought this battle with my parents over the ‘brushing the teeth’ issue. “I’m fixin’ to.” Then it became the ‘homework’ issue. Then, in the seminary, it became the praying issue. “I’m fixin’ to.” Then in my first assignment, it was about getting over to the grade school to visit classrooms. “I’m fixin’ to.” At the university, when I first started, it was about getting over to campus instead of just staying at the Newman Center. In each place and during each stage of my faith life, there has been an area that “I’m fixin’ to get to’. Even now, at 45, when I should have more of a handle on the doing, I struggle with dealing with those difficult situations - the confrontation I need to make, the apology I need to give, the student I need to address. “I’m fixin’ to do it…” And I find the gospel today inviting me to stop ‘fixin’ and start doing.

If you know that struggle in your own life, then there is good news in today’s gospel. The kingdom of heaven is full of people who did not start off well in the ‘doing’ the things of the kingdom category. The tax collectors. The public sinners. The prostitutes. All the folks whose lives initially said “NO” to the invitation of the kingdom, but found a way to move from fixin’ to doing.

So the gospel question becomes: What are you fixin’ to do that you need to be doing to do?

Pro-life Month – write that letter to congress, oppose the preemptive war against Iraq, staff a pregnancy hotline.
CUCA – is organizing a public meeting at the Chase Park Plaza on Oct. 27th at 4:00p.m. to raise awareness of the needs of the poor in our own city.
Spiritually – read that book, be a part of the Busy Person’s Retreat, find that time to pray the rosary this month of October…

The good news today is that there is room in the kingdom for all sorts of people – anyone who is trying to do the will of the Father, no matter how imperfectly they do it. May this week find us moving from the fixin’ to the doing…