26th Sunday Ordinary Time – “I Will Not Go… I Will Go…” Part Deux

Here is the most revealing mis-translation I have yet to find… ever.  The NRSV translates it thus:

Matthew 21:29f           29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go.

Here’s what the Greek says literally: “The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I, Lord’   YEP.   He said, “I.”  Not, “I will go.”  Not, “I will, sir.”  Just, “I, sir.”

Let’s sit with that a moment.  It’s the imperious “I.”  “ME!!!”  No verb.  Nothing else but sheer ego.  Which, in fact, is the Greek word for “I.”  Ego!

So, in the face of the mission to the vineyard (discipleship) the supposedly good, sparkly clean, religious boy and girl merely replies, “ME!”

There’s little answer to that, right?

Except all of Jesus’ teachings which essentially speak to our imperious egos.  “If you wish to be great… If you wish to follow me, go & sell… If you wish to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross…”  Yikes!

So, sisters & brothers, what are we to do when so exposed with our imperious ME?