Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May God give you peace!
For so long a time, I was not sending you my personal reflections of the Sunday Masses. As you all know, I had underwent a hospitalization for my pancreatic cancer. So far, I'm now feeling well. So, since I was released from my assignments/ministires, I have time to reflect and write my reflection. I am sending you this Sunday Mass reflection.
August 21, 2016
Readings: First Reading Isaiah 66:18-21
Second Reading Hebrew 12: 5-7, 11-13
Gospel Luke 13:22-30
Responsorial Psalm: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Reflection
As usual, Jesus is on the move. He passed through towns and villages (v. 22). He wanted to reach out as many people as he can, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem (v. 22). He was teaching repentance for the Reign-Kingdom of God. In his teaching, he included freedom from sin, not to tell a lie but rather of truth, fellowship to one another and love of God, neighbor and creation. He also teaching the people to be good in whatever they do, in working, in dealing with others, and saying good words that inspire and make spirit (soul) uplifting and happy.
"Then suddenly, someone in the crowd asked him, 'Lord, will only a few people be saved?'" (v. 23). Why did he ask this? What came to his mind when he asked this question? Was he also asking us if we are saved? Saved from what? Are you saved? from death, from sin, from miseries, from poverty, from accident, etc? How many are we to be saved from our present situations and conditions? How many among us here present are saved? All of us, few of us, none of us? There are some religious sects that say they are saved in their religions. Jesus answered them not in numbers but by action. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough!" That's it. Everyone of us can be saved if we strive to enter the narrow gate. What is this narrow gate? What is the meaning of this saying? It is easy to pass through the wide-open gate of FRC than to enter the gate in/of heaven. Why it was so? Because you can bring in your car here, but in heaven you cannot bring anything except your soul and sins. In another gospel, as if Jesus was saying to us: "It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven . . . it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God" (Mt. 19:23-24). Try to enter that narrow gate, that eye of the needle as soon as possible for "after the master of the house has arisen," from long waiting of you/us, "and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking at the door" (v. 25). It will be too late, even when we say, "Lord, open the door for us," and if we do not change our lives for better if not best. For it is painful if the Lord would say to you/us, "I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!" (vv. 26-27).
When the Reign-Kingdom of God comes we will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, and people coming from the east and the west, from the north to the south, all will recline and eat at the table of the Lord while you are outside and grinding your teach. Those who came last, like we, will be put first and those who came first will be placed last.
As what the Lord God has promised of old, that God knew our works and our thoughts - through and through and He will come to gather us all, as what He said (from the first reading, Isaiah) all nations - language, race, color, etc. will be gathered and we shall see His glory (16:18) in His Reign-Kingdom. Nevertheless, for a moment we have to endure many trials, struggles, tests in this life for God disciplines us. As what St. Paul said: "Endure your trials as discipline" (Heb. 12:7). We have to accept these disciplines "for what son and daughter is there whom his/her father does not discipline. At the beginnig, we do not understand why God treat us like these and sometimes these cause us pains, yet later these will bring us joy and peace - fruits of righteousness to us who are trained by these disciplines (v.11).
May we love God with all our whole beings!
Fraternally yours,
Fr. Yosi, OFM
May God give you peace!
For so long a time, I was not sending you my personal reflections of the Sunday Masses. As you all know, I had underwent a hospitalization for my pancreatic cancer. So far, I'm now feeling well. So, since I was released from my assignments/ministires, I have time to reflect and write my reflection. I am sending you this Sunday Mass reflection.
August 21, 2016
Readings: First Reading Isaiah 66:18-21
Second Reading Hebrew 12: 5-7, 11-13
Gospel Luke 13:22-30
Responsorial Psalm: Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Reflection
As usual, Jesus is on the move. He passed through towns and villages (v. 22). He wanted to reach out as many people as he can, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem (v. 22). He was teaching repentance for the Reign-Kingdom of God. In his teaching, he included freedom from sin, not to tell a lie but rather of truth, fellowship to one another and love of God, neighbor and creation. He also teaching the people to be good in whatever they do, in working, in dealing with others, and saying good words that inspire and make spirit (soul) uplifting and happy.
"Then suddenly, someone in the crowd asked him, 'Lord, will only a few people be saved?'" (v. 23). Why did he ask this? What came to his mind when he asked this question? Was he also asking us if we are saved? Saved from what? Are you saved? from death, from sin, from miseries, from poverty, from accident, etc? How many are we to be saved from our present situations and conditions? How many among us here present are saved? All of us, few of us, none of us? There are some religious sects that say they are saved in their religions. Jesus answered them not in numbers but by action. "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough!" That's it. Everyone of us can be saved if we strive to enter the narrow gate. What is this narrow gate? What is the meaning of this saying? It is easy to pass through the wide-open gate of FRC than to enter the gate in/of heaven. Why it was so? Because you can bring in your car here, but in heaven you cannot bring anything except your soul and sins. In another gospel, as if Jesus was saying to us: "It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven . . . it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God" (Mt. 19:23-24). Try to enter that narrow gate, that eye of the needle as soon as possible for "after the master of the house has arisen," from long waiting of you/us, "and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking at the door" (v. 25). It will be too late, even when we say, "Lord, open the door for us," and if we do not change our lives for better if not best. For it is painful if the Lord would say to you/us, "I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!" (vv. 26-27).
When the Reign-Kingdom of God comes we will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, and people coming from the east and the west, from the north to the south, all will recline and eat at the table of the Lord while you are outside and grinding your teach. Those who came last, like we, will be put first and those who came first will be placed last.
As what the Lord God has promised of old, that God knew our works and our thoughts - through and through and He will come to gather us all, as what He said (from the first reading, Isaiah) all nations - language, race, color, etc. will be gathered and we shall see His glory (16:18) in His Reign-Kingdom. Nevertheless, for a moment we have to endure many trials, struggles, tests in this life for God disciplines us. As what St. Paul said: "Endure your trials as discipline" (Heb. 12:7). We have to accept these disciplines "for what son and daughter is there whom his/her father does not discipline. At the beginnig, we do not understand why God treat us like these and sometimes these cause us pains, yet later these will bring us joy and peace - fruits of righteousness to us who are trained by these disciplines (v.11).
May we love God with all our whole beings!
Fraternally yours,
Fr. Yosi, OFM
