22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Sirach 3:17-18.20.28-29

Psalm 68
Hebrews 12:18-19.22-24
Luke 14:1.7-14

BE HUMBLE!

Speaking about humility in the light of today’s readings may sound strange in our contemporary world for at least two reasons. First, we live in a society that celebrates titles, social prestige and power. Everybody wants to be at the first position and to feel important. Second, whenever we organize a party of any kind or a special diner, we invite “important” personalities, those who can leave behind a “fat envelope” or a gift when returning home. We make meticulous seating arrangement for the distinguished guesses, dignitaries, celebrities, etc. and we cautiously choose those to seat at the “high table”.

However, in the gospel, Jesus reverses this normal procedure and throws two challenges. First, when you are invited to a wedding banquet or to a party, take the lowest seats, he told those who were choosing the places of honour at a dining table. Second, when you organize a party, invite those who can do absolutely nothing to pay you back or to get you a social or professional promotion: the marginalized, the outcasts, and the untouched of our communities.

Jesus' party etiquettes and protocols characterized by humility may be socially difficult to observe in our days. But that is the demand in the kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, as the second reading teaches. He humbled himself taking the form of a servant so as to gather us all before God and make us co-citizens with the angels and saints in the heavenly Jerusalem. In this city of God, we are all firstborns, therefore equal in the eyes of the Living God.

The first reading invites us to be humble and modest in all our conducts. The author warns us against pride and self-glorification. In other words, if we are humble, we will find favour with God; people will love us too. Thus, the more we humble ourselves, the greater we become. In all, let us remember that there is nothing we have and are that is not from God. St Paul asked: “Who confers distinction upon you? What do you have that you have not received? And if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? (1Cor 4:7) Thus, humble yourself, and God will lift you up. Remain blessed!

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm 117
Hebrews 12:5-7.11-13
Luke 13:22-30

THE NARROW GATE

According to today’s readings, salvation should not be taken for granted. Going to Mass or being a member of a particular church does not guarantee salvation. To be saved or not to be saved depend on our personal relationship with the Lord, on how we conform our lifestyles to the message of the Gospel. In effect, the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading and Jesus’ sayings in today’s gospel might have sounded strange in the hearing of their respective Jewish audiences. The Jews had always believed that they were the chosen people of God; that they had the right to enter the kingdom of God. But according to the prophet, God is coming to gather nations of every language so that they may see his glory. He will even choose among them priests and Levites to bring him offerings.

In the Gospel, a question is put to Jesus: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answers this question by inviting the crowd to strive and enter through the narrow gate, for many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. Then he goes on to give a parable of the banquet in which will partake people from the four corners of the earth; but those who thought of themselves as having the right to the banquet will be cast out.

Accordingly, to be saved does not depend solely on how often we go to church. For it is not enough to have attended catechism classes, or to have received the sacraments, etc. It is not enough even to preach or work miracles in the name of Jesus. We must put the Word of God into practice. And this requires a daily effort. That is what it means to enter through the narrow gate.  The image of a “narrow gate” evokes striving, difficulty, effort and tiredness. The narrow gate is the way of love, mercy, forgiveness and justice. It is the way of joyfully accepting and bearing with suffering. It is the way of enduring trial as “discipline” from our loving Father in heaven.

Above all, we must remember that salvation is a free gift from God who is Love and Mercy. But each of us must strive to receive this gift and remain faithful to the end. However, we cannot do this without the grace of God. Thus, let us pray to him to grant us such grace to always walk on the way leading to our salvation. Amen

20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Jeremiah 38:4-6.8-10
Psalm 39(40)
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

     
                      BEARING WITNESS TO CHRIST

To be a Christian is to become a witness to Christ Jesus who is a "sign of contradiction". In the gospel reading, Jesus makes puzzling statements which, at first glance, appear to contradict his mission and the message of the Gospel. He has come to bring fire on earth. He has a baptism to receive. More paradoxical, he says that he has not come to bring peace on earth, but division even within the family.

What Jesus meant is that he stands as a sign of contradiction. He has come to testify to the truth. He has come to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable, just like the prophet Jeremiah, whose story we hear in the first reading. Because of his prophetic utterances, the nobles of Jerusalem manipulated king Zedekiah to have Jeremiah put into a cistern. As God’s spokesperson, he never ceased to call the people to conversion, inviting them to abandon their evil ways. But they did not like his message and so persecuted him day and night, because he challenged their way of life characterized by social abuses, dishonesty and idolatry.

Jesus too endured opposition and hostility from the Jewish leadership to the point of receiving the baptism of suffering and death on the cross. Thus, opting for Jesus and becoming his disciple is to expose oneself to similar treatments. In fact, the history of the Church is full of men and women, children, young and old, who have bore witness to their faith, even to the point of shedding their blood.  These are the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us. Hence, the second reading encourages us to persevere in running the race that lies before us while we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Consequently, we must not be afraid of standing for the truth, justice, and the respect of human dignity. We may be laughed at, persecuted or rejected by our own people because of our faith and dedication to Christ. In such moments, let us not lose faith. Let us remember that the Lord is our Help and deliverer. He will put the hymn of victory into our mouth if we persevere to the end. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen

18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Qohelet 1:2; 2:21-23
Psalm 90
Colossians 3:1-5.9-11
Luke 12:13-21

RUNNING AFTER THE WIND

Everybody wants happiness, success, and abundance. In fact, no one would wish to be poor. Unfortunately, true happiness seems far from us. As such, today’s readings invite us to take a fresh look at our attitude towards wealth and possession.

In the first reading, the Preacher opens his book with this famous saying that runs through his book: “vanity of vanities, all things are vanities.” At first view, he presents a pessimistic view about life, for no profit comes from man’s toils other than pain. Nothing can give man rest and lasting happiness. Man cannot escape the absurdity of his existence. As such, life seems not worth living. However, it can be observed that Qoheleth gives us a more realistic and lucid view about life. For him, life is good; it is God’s gift that must be received with joy and thanksgiving.  In short, man must live in the present, trust and serve God.


The gospel reading comes as a good illustration of the teaching of the Preacher. The incident of a man asking Jesus to mediate the family dispute about inheritance led Jesus to warn the crowd against all greed. Then he proceeded with the story of the rich fool. What renders the rich man a fool was not his wealth or his judicious plan of how to use his possession; but rather his inordinate attachment to these. He was obsessed and possessed by his wealth and possessions. All was about how he will enjoy his wealth. In fact, no other person is mentioned in his story. Everything was in relation to his ‘Ego’. This is selfishness and egoism. This is greed, which is a great evil. Greed destroys oneself, one’s relationships and the community life.

Thus, for us Christians, we must adopt a different approach towards our possessions: detachment and simplicity of life. St Paul, in the second reading, exhorts us to detach ourselves from everything earthly: immorality, greed, evil desire, lying, etc. Our security does not lie in material possessions, but in building a God-fearing, loving, harmonious and caring community. May the Lord help us not to put our trust in material things that do not last, but in things that lead us to eternity. Amen