Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Heb. 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30
Choose Wisely, Choose the Narrow Path
1. Diversity is God’s unique gift to humanity. God created us and loved us into being regardless of who we are the color of our skin and our country of origin. Discrimination, segregation, and racism are sins that cry out to heaven and show how far we are from our creator. These vices demonstrate our collective sense of sin and shame. Christ died for humanity and made salvation available to all, not minding who we are and where we come from. St Paul captured this vividly thus: “For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:26-29).
2. Today’s first reading reminds us of this fact. “I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations.” Isaiah wrote this to encourage the children of Israel who were exiled to Babylon. Two generations of Israelites were already in the land of exile. They had given up hope of returning home to Judea and their beloved temple in Jerusalem. The prophet told them that God would revisit them to restore their fortune. They will worship God again in Jerusalem. He reminded them that at the time of their visitation, people from foreign nations would join them to worship the God of Israel. Even foreigners would be accepted as priests. This way of thinking was foreign to them, who thought salvation was their birthright.
3. The Children of Israel were to see their time in a foreign land as a testing period and a time of discipline. God tested them because he loved them. “Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him?” (Second reading). Much as we hate suffering, it is a necessary part of our existence. There is no crown without a cross. But we would do anything to avoid pain, suffering, and discipline. Many have taken drugs, alcohol, sex, and violent behaviors to numb their pains. But our pain will not go away through the use of substances; we must solve our problems by working through them. Whatever we take to avoid pain and suffering will wear off sooner than later, and the pain will intensify after. If we are patient and disciplined, we can solve life’s problems slowly but surely.
4. Today, Christ invites us to make a hard choice and travel the narrow path of discipline. To the question, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” We cannot claim to know Christ if we are not practicing Christians. Our religious practices without knowing Christ as our personal Lord and Savior will not bring us to His presence. We may hear instead, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!” Or, as Isaiah would say: “These people claim to worship me, but their words are meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized.” (29:13).
5. Does God know your work and your thoughts? (First reading). Do you have a personal relationship with God that will influence your relationship with others? To the question, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Christ answered: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:36-40). Those who do the will of God and love their neighbors as themselves will see God, not those who call on God daily and do not do what He commands.
6. We have a choice before us today. So, we must choose wisely! Is your choice the narrow path that leads to joy, peace, and eternal happiness, or the way that guarantees instant happiness and joy here and now? Let us choose a life with God. Let us choose forgiveness and peaceful coexistence with others and not hatred and sadness. The choice is ours. But remember, every choice has consequences. May we choose the narrow path, the road that only a few people will find, and enter into eternal happiness with God. May Christ never say this to us “I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.” Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP
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