Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lk 13:22-30
Dear sisters and brothers,
We have a big question in today's Gospel. A question that has haunted humanity over the centuries: "Lord, will only a few people be saved?"
We all want to go to heaven. Who wants eternal punishment, where "there will be wailing and grinding of teeth"? I hope no one. That is why the question about salvation is so pertinent and Jesus spoke about it so many times: "again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Mt 19:24 or "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it."Mt 7:14 or “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jn 14:6 or “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Mt 7:21 or When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mt 19:25-26. The list can go on. Today we hear: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
The Lord, who loves us and wants to save us, shows us the path. He is the way. He shows us that it is not enough to eat and drink with him, or to have heard his teaching. We are invited to live as He did. That means we need to strive, work hard to live like He did. The whole Gospel is this invitation. The Lord is patient and does not expect us to be perfect right away. He walks with us so that we might experience His love and have his grace to heal our hearts from sin and little by little live in virtue.
At the end of today’s Gospel there is a great source of consolation. He says that “people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south”. The Kingdom of God is offered to ALL peoples! Have a blessed Sunday!
Fr. Carlos
