Homily (Reflection) for
the Twenty-First Sunday
of the Year, (C) (21st August, 2016) on the Gospel
Is 66:18-21;
Ps 116. (R. Mk
16:15);Heb 12:5-7.11-13;
Lk 13:22-30.
Topic: Ticket to heaven.
Jesus warns in today’s gospel,
“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to
enter and will not be able.” These will knock and plead but the owner of the
house will reply them, “I do not know where you come from.” Interestingly, they
will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” Yet
he will say to them, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all
you evildoers!”
In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes, “...our
citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20).
Remember what God has prepared for those who love Him in heaven, “What no eye
has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived” (1Cor 2:9). Saint Peter also describes it as “an inheritance which
is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1Pt
1:4). More touching is that whether one succeeds to enter or not, it is
forever, cf. Dan 7:18, 27. 12:2; Matt
25:46.
The pains of not being able to
enter through the narrow door is unimaginable. Hence Jesus goes on to warn,
There will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east
and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.
Some might think that based on their positions and/or
connections that they will succeed through the narrow door. Jesus defines His
friends as those who do His will, cf. Jn
15:14. He also prayed for them to the Father saying, “Father, I desire that
those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory,
which you have given me...” (Jn 17:24;
cf. Jn 14:3).
A priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven.
Saint Peter was at the Pearly Gates waiting for them. “Come with me,” said
Peter to the taxi driver.
The taxi driver did as he was told
and followed Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a
bowling alley to an Olympic-sized pool. “Wow, thank you,” said the taxi driver.
Next, Saint Peter led the priest to
a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little, old television set. “Wait, I
think you are a little mixed up,” said the priest. “Shouldn’t I be the one who
gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and
preached God’s word.”
“Yes, that’s true,” replied Peter.
“But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone
prayed.”[1]
Saint Paul warns, “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, male
prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers –
none of these will inherit the kingdom of God” (1Cor 6:9-10). He also warns,
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing,
and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21).
Everyone is strongly urged to enter the kingdom of God, cf. Lk 16:16. Nothing is good enough to deprive
one the kingdom of God, cf. Mk 9:43-48.
According to the Apostles, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the
kingdom of God,” cf. Acts 14:22. We
have hope laid up for us in heaven, cf. Col
1:5.
Bible Reading: Mk 9:42-48; Gal 5:16-26; 1Pt 1:3–2:17. 4:12-19.
Thought for today: Something greater is
in heaven.
Let us pray: Lord, give us the strength to enter
through the narrow door – Amen.
You
are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
For
more homilies (reflections):
Visit our website: www.thepulpitonline.com
Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298
6313
Send us Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
To Contact and/or to support this ministry:
Tel: +234 813 305
0302
+234
905 655 4466
Email: thepulpitonline@gmail.com
May God bless you
all+
[1]
Thomas, T. (2010). Spice
up your homilies. Mumbai: St Pauls, p. 167.
Post a Comment
Post a Comment