TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (FEAST OF ST.
PIUS X)
21 AUGUST 2016
When
someone asks Jesus the question of how many will be saved, this person asks the
question as a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The questioner probably presumes that only
children of Abraham will be saved, excluding all Gentiles, sinners, tax
collectors, and others known as public sinners.
Jesus turns that expectation upside down. He replies to the question on his way to
Jerusalem. Once he reaches Jerusalem, he
will enter the “narrow gate” of betrayal, pain, and death on a cross. He is already striving to enter that narrow
gate by the choices he is making on the way.
Instead of bringing attention to himself, he proclaims the Kingdom of
God. Instead of doing what he wants, he pursues
his Father’s will. Instead of having people
wait on him, he serves the needs of others.
Jesus
really does not answer that question of how many will be saved. Instead, he challenges the presumption that
belonging to the right group of people is enough to assure salvation. He warns the assembled crowds that they
cannot delay in making a decision to follow him through the narrow gate. They must decide to follow him now. Just being with him and listening to his
words and eating and drinking in his company will not be enough. Those who want to be saved must actively
pursue the Kingdom of God and its values.
They must strive to know and do the Father’s will. They must be humble servants. They must know that striving to enter through
the narrow gate involves embracing the cross of Christ on a daily basis.
Jesus
speaks these words to us today as we celebrate our patronal feast day. We center our celebration of the Feast of
Saint Pius at this Mass and all the Masses this weekend. We do lots of fun things – like gambling,
running races, and enjoying each other’s company at the picnic this
afternoon. We give thanks that God has
formed us as living stones into a human temple, symbolized by the physical
stones of our new church as it gradually takes shape. But Jesus does not mince words in challenging
us to actively strive to enter through the narrow gate. We can never presume that we are at the head
of the line knocking on the door to eternity.
We can never be arrogant and think that we are better than other
parishes. We always need to look for
ways to grow into a more authentic faith.
We can always improve the ways we proclaim the Kingdom, pursue the
Father’s will, or give ourselves in humble service, especially to the poor.
Striving to
enter the narrow gate involves carrying the cross of Jesus Christ on a daily
basis. That can be difficult and
discouraging. The Letter to the Hebrews
compares the pain of carrying those crosses with the discipline given by
parents to their children. My father was
very hard on me when I was growing up, and I did not like it. But, as I began to mature, I also began to
appreciate that he was forming me as his oldest son to be responsible. That discipline did not stop with
Ordination. Bishop D’Arcy was always
calling me to correct me for something.
I would return from vacation to hear him on my voice mail: “Bill, this is Bishop D’Arcy. I know you said not to leave a message, but I
am your bishop.” And then he would
correct me for something I had said or done.
Later, I came to understand that he really cared for me as one of his
sons. He saw making me a Monsignor as a
way of expressing that care.
It is good
for us to celebrate our annual Feast Day, and it is a great way to get started
in the new school year. The Lord wants
everyone to be saved. But, he does not
force his love on us. He loves us so
much that he gives us the freedom to reject him. He invites us to freely accept it and to
continue to strive to enter the narrow door.
He wants us to strengthen our drooping hands and weak knees when the
cross seems to bear us down. He wants us
to make straight paths for our feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed
but healed.
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