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Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church |
Homily Archives | |
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21 Ordinary Time – C If you drive on the highways in the summertime, you will experience the orange barrels and cones that slow down traffic, creating a bottleneck. It could be road construction or a wreck that causes several lanes of traffic to merge into a single lane. When traffic bottlenecks, tempers can flare, horns begin to blow, and what would have been a short trip turns into a much longer one. We also experience this bottleneck at theaters. People stand several across, and as they move closer towards the ticket counter, “people organizing” tapes force them into one or two lines. And how often have we gone to the grocery store and waited for our turn at the checkout counter. Sometimes even the self-check out lanes are backed up. These instances of being bottlenecked - slowed down and funneled into one or two lines -- is exactly the point of the Gospel reading. As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem, he is asked, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He answers by saying, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Many are working towards being saved today. Catholics and Protestants and Muslims, democrats and republicans, conservatives and liberals. People of many cultures, religions and politics are working at reaching their final destiny, the place of great reward, where they will be with their God. A huge mass of people stand side by side in the world, trying to live together to reach peace and harmony, and focusing their efforts toward eternal life. But as we travel forward, we often get slowed way down -- bottlenecked -- because we each think that we have the right way. When everyone thinks he or she is right, then there is no room for differences, and when there is no room for differences, there is hardness of heart and great confusion. To move forward, we must let go of the need to be right and be open to differences. Jesus tells those
inquiring about who will be saved that the gate to eternity is narrow, and
some will find thems It takes more then being in the presence of Jesus to truly know him. It takes having a personal relationship with Jesus. And when we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we will be transformed. In this transformation we will be able to shed the things that keep us from entering through the narrow gate. By looking at the life of Jesus, we will find the ways to transform our lives. Jesus teaches us not to be preoccupied with wealth and the power that comes with money. Let go of the anxiety that comes with material things. Live a simple life and travel lightly. Be hospitable and learn to freely serve others. Living like Jesus
will help us develop a relationship with him. It will also give us the
strength that we need to reach up, unlock the door, and pass through the
narrow gate to enter into total communion with God. This is not an easy
journey; it funnels us through the bottleneck, but the hope that we will
be counted among the saved sustains our struggle. |
elves
outside the door, knocking and saying, “Lord, open the door for us. You
know us…we ate and we drank with you…you are from our town."