21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

August 25, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 66: 18-21

Psalm 117: “Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.”

Second Reading: Hebrew 12: 5-7, 11-13

Gospel reading according to Luke 13: 22-30

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Homily:

Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem.  From where he was, he passed many towns and village, and while passing through those places he had an opportunity to preach and teach them the Reign-Kingdom of God.  “Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem” (Luke 13: 22).  He never forgotten his mission, to do the will of God his Father that is to proclaim the Reign-Kingdom of God and to offer his self for the ransom of many, to save lives of many and bring them to his Kingdom – to the eternal life, prepared for them, sooner or later.  He never stopped explaining to people about the Reign-Kingdom of God.  He even brought to himself the significance of the Reign-Kingdom of God that is of justice, peace and love, and obedience to the will of the loving Father.  For in Jerusalem, Jesus will show the true purpose of his coming.

Although our life here on earth is temporary, and our true home is in the Kingdom of God sometimes we called it heaven, mostly or many people wanted to stay or remain here on earth that is why they were doing many things to live longer and to prolong their lives.  They did not realize that nothing is permanent; we are all transients, traveling and journeying in this planet called earth (or world) toward heaven (or if not, hell).  We cannot live forever here on earth; all die and go where they belong.  Even the people of Israel of old offended the true God by serving the Baals, gods of thunder for rain and good harvest, and of the earth where they were living (cf. Judges 2: 11-19); as well as the rich young man, who asked for gaining eternal life here on earth to enjoy his wealth and who cannot leave his possessions for they were many (cf. Matthew 19: 16-22).  It so transpired that one of his followers wanted to clarify about this thing. “Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’”(Luke 13: 23).  As if he was asking Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” (Mathew 19: 25).  Despite of teaching and preaching of Jesus, only few listened to him, only few were heeding, observing and following his pleading.  This is the reality and truth, not all of us will go to heaven, because of the stubbornness of our hearts and heads, of our earthy desires, for it is difficult to leave what we are used to be and do and have.  We cannot even leave our freedom and free will, our sins. Sometimes our minds are in heavenward, we think of heavenly bliss; but, most of the times our hearts are left here on earth, to our material things, to what we have.  That is why, there is a saying, and “We cannot bring to heaven what is earthly thing.”  Jesus said to his disciples, “It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19: 23), rich in many earthly things but poor in heavenly things.  Only few people are saved.

To go to heaven is not easy; we have to pass through difficult and different tests of faith.  “He answered them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (Luke 13: 24).  We have to make sure that we can enter and pass through the narrow gate, that we have strength and energy to persevere until it last. We have to insert (isiksik, itagilid ang ating katawan para makapasok sa makipot na daan) ourselves into it.  But how can we pass through that narrow gate if we carry many things in our baggage, luggage, bags, boxes, cartons, plastic bags, and all sorts of containers where we can put our belongings in vans or trucks or cargoes?  We have also baggage on our hands, on our shoulders, on our legs, on our waist, on our head aside from baggage in our heart, mind, soul and body.  We cannot carry them all; we have to detach ourselves and leave behind from all these things, otherwise we cannot insert ourselves to that narrow gate or door straight, for that is one of the tests.

Another test we have to pass is to convince the master of the house that we belong to him, we are under his commands.  We have to convince him that we just go out (lumabas lang tayo dahil may dinaluhan lang tayo sa labas) to do something or to attend to someone outside the house.  “’After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’  He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’  And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets’.” (Luke 13: 25-26).  The master of the house has the key to close or open the door, to let his household members to go out or to come in, or not to accept the outsiders.  The master of the house knows his members.  He arises in the night to lock the door.  It means the whole day the door is open.  If we find ourselves late at night and still outside the master’s house, we cannot expect always that the master will open the door for us.  We cannot justify ourselves if he caught us still outside late at night and explained where did we go or where we came from.  “Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.  Depart from me, all you evildoers!’” (Luke 13: 27).  He knew what we have done.  We cannot deny from him all the evil deeds we did.  The only things we can do are to amend our lives, change our attitudes, do what is right and good, be sorry for all the sins we have done, and ask for forgiveness.

The other test is when you are being caste out in the company of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our fathers of faith, and all the prophets as well as those few people who suffered and made sacrifices for the sake of others, who renounced their treasure on earth – those who come from east to west and from the north and the south are now in the Kingdom of God in heaven, as their inheritance and reward.  They will recline in the table of the Lord God the almighty.  “’And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out.  And people will come from east to west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God’.” (Luke 13: 28-29).  As what Jesus said above, “strive,” go all out, make every effort, and be fervent that you should not be cast out in the company of saints.  “’For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last’.” (Luke 13: 30). And the reversal of event will happen, in God’s time.  Sometimes our lives or conditions in life are changed. Sometime we are on ups and sometimes we are on downs, we call it wheel of life (gulong ng palad) or upside down fate (nagbaliktad na kapalaran).  The rich or those who have plenty will become poor or nothing while those who are poor and nothing in life will become rich or plenty. We do not know our fate.  Only one thing we know, there is no impossible in God.  In God everything is possible.