GOSPEL HOMILY (LK 13: 22-30) | 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME | DOM LORENZO, SSCV | AUGUST 21, 2022
The narrow path The Gospel for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary time is a wake up call (Lk. 13:22-30). It emphasizes that knowing the Lord is not enough and encourages us to live the life Jesus lived and put his word into practice. Christ himself warned his disciples: entrance into God’s Kingdom is not easy; they have to pass the narrow door. The central theme of the Mass readings today is that God wants all men to be saved. We remember St. Augustine’s doctrine: “Deus creavit te sine te, sed non servant te sine te” viz. God created you without you, but cannot save you without you. Indeed, when it comes to salvation, God needs our cooperation. The Lord cannot force us to go to heaven. We all know that because of pride and selfishness we were divided, but in Jesus we have been redeemed. Through the humility of the Son of God, we became God’s children and heirs of heaven; so too, only though humble obedience to the Father can we be saved. When asked if only few will be saved, Christ did not choose to answer directly but he stressed the essential facts. Jesus explained to his listeners: to enter the Kingdom of God, which is the only thing that counts, it is not enough to belong to the Chosen People, or to have a false confidence in him. The Master emphasized that the divine privilege enjoyed by the Jews aren’t enough to be included in the list of those who belong to God’s Kingdom. Sure, we are all destined to heaven; this is what we have been born for. But we need to respond to the call of God’s Kingdom which is urgent and impelling. To go to heaven, we must acknowledge Jesus as Master and God will not stop offering moments of grace for us to keep focused. The Holy Spirit will continue to prompt us all our lives with impuses to reform and to do the right thing. The Lord will do everything so that we may not be swayed by the enemy who never sleeps. Since we cannot enter heaven alone, we must busy ourselves with the spiritual welfare of our love ones, friends, and those whom God sends us to shepherd. We must actively participate in the universal task of salvation. This is a call to be exemplary in order to encourage others with our good examples and conduct. Many will lean upon us, most especially those who need most help, those who are wavering and have less strength. With our good examples and most importantly, our zeal in the apostle, others will understand that the path that leads to heaven in truth and reality is actually a broad way for those who love. Today the Church prays that all baptized Christians may have to humility to see that God’s Kingdom is a gift which we have to accept with joy and courage, so that it may bear fruit in our lives. May we also have the dedication to encourage others to cease the day and take advantage of the time and opportunity God is giving us. MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, Pray for us!
